CAN'T REMEMBER TO FORGET YOU ✶ finnick odair / revising

vii. ▬▬ philosophy of it all

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007 ▬▬ THE PHILOSOPHY OF IT
ALL
𓄲 ࣪˖ 𓏲 › 4.2K WORDS

it's not just my pride / it's just till
these tears have dried

─ AMY WINEHOUSE, ❛ rejab ❜

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(rewritten oct. 21, 2024)

In the hours following her conversation with Finnick, Nerissa hopped from room to room, tossing what needs to be tossed, and scrubbing what needs to be scrubbed. She spends the longest time on her family's urns; wiping the counter they rested on, the porcelain that holds their ashes together, and the lids that shelter them from outside debris so their remains remain pure.

She is about to head up the stairs until Coralie runs out of her room with tears in her face. They clash into each other and tumble to the ground, and it's the second time the Victor has fallen over that morning.

After a physical battle of prying her sister off of her, and a psychological one of assuring her that they were both alive, Nerissa ushers her to get ready for the day. She wants to personally send Coralie to school that morning, a decision that surprises both of them. On any normal school day, Nerissa would walk her to the diner, where Helena and Lazaro would be waiting. After that, the twins drop her and Akilles off to school.

Today, she finds herself almost incapable of fitting her stump into her foot. She's beginning to lose mass in her left leg due to inactivity, while the other leg is growing muscle from the exercise. After a few layers of socks to fill the empty space in the socket, the two sisters head out the door to the school.

Education is vital to the people of District Four. After all, kids in the district began learning skill sets related to their field of work at -- ironically enough -- four years-old. Primary education is a must. While secondary education and onward is encouraged, some students leave midway to provide for their families. The only ones who usually finish school are District Four officials and richer merchants, a title that the Hong and Alon families don't necessarily claim for themselves.

In the wharves, the younger fishers get two hours to themselves to study. Kids in the dock markets can read on their break while working. Those tasked with deliveries can be heard quizzing each other while on the road. Even the Alons have a book holder nailed above the stove to read while cooking. Her free time is spent reading books sent in through the mail from Charmaine's personal library. She loves that part of her culture dearly.

Her first stop of the day is Luca's shop, previously her family's. The wind chimes made of seashells create a distorted melody as she passes by. The wooden 'open' sign is visible through the fogged window, and she doesn't hesitate to turn the cold, metal knob and open the door.