It was reaping day. This was the first year  my name was in the jar, and it was in 8 times, I had taken tesserae. My name is Rue. I was dressed in a light brown dress, with wooden sandals. I walked in line behind the other twelve year old girl in my district. A peacekeeper injected a shot in my arm, it sung, but not as much as the hunger I faced each day. Misty White stepped out on stage just as she did every year. She had long silver hair with gray misty eyes. She was wearing a long silver dress that had sparkles that looked like mist at the end of it. As usual the whole video about the uprising and District 13 was played. Normally I would pay attention, but this year I was too scared to care. Misty walked up to the glass ball that held the twelve to eighteen year old girls names. She twirled her hand in the jar and picked up a small slip of paper. She then said with a loud voice, “Rue Orchards.”

I was trying my hardest not to cry as I slowly walked onto the stage. Two peacekeepers were right behind me as I walked. I could see sadness in Misty’s eyes when she saw I was twelve. I guess she does have a heart. “Any volunteers?” Misty asked. There was hopefulness in her voice. There was only silence. The tears were starting to fight their way out. Misty sighed and walked to the boy’s reaping bowl. Misty swished her hand in the bowl and pulled out another slip of paper. “Thresh Harvest.”

                Not Thresh. Thresh is my best friend Rose’s older brother. She must be crushed to see her best friend and her brother as the tributes of the 74th Hunger Games. “May the odds be ever in your favor!” Misty said in her capitol accent. The odds aren’t in my favor.

                I was in the waiting room where my friends and family could come to say goodbye. The first ones to come were my parents. “Mom! Dad!” I half yelled half sobbed. “I’m so sorry this happened, I’m so sorry.” My mom said crying as well. “Please at least try to win for us Rue, please.” I could tell my father was trying his best not to cry when he said that. We were all just standing there hugging and crying until a peacekeeper came and told them that their time was up. All I could do was wave goodbye to them as the peacekeepers pushed them out of the door.

                The next people in were my little sisters. “Rue!” they cried, running up to hug me. I hugged them back trying not to cry, as I didn’t want to frighten them. My youngest sister, Lily, said something that made me want to win for them. This is what she said, “Rue please come back home when the Games are over. My world will be crushed without you. I won’t care about anything you do in the arena, as long as you make it home.” As long as you make it home. Those words kept repeating in my head after they had left.

                The last person to visit was Rose, she was crying so hard. “Rue I need one of you to come home, at least one, I don’t care who. As long as you both try.” “I’ll always try for you.” I told her. She held up a necklace made of twine with a wooden star bead. “I made two of these, one for you and one for Thresh. Please wear it as your district token.” “I will.” We cried and hugged and said are final goodbyes. Then the peacekeepers took her away. I’ll see her again. I have to.

“Are you ready to get on the train?” I looked behind me and saw Misty with Thresh at her side. “Yes.” I reply, my voice shaking. I followed them into the train. I looked out the window as the train went faster, and farther away from my home, District 11.