aphrodite₂ [treech]

v i i i

Lamina sleeps beside me, Venus's blanket draped over her. I wish I could sleep too, but Venus hasn't arrived yet. I look forward to seeing her, even if it's the last time I do.

"Hey, Treech," says Wovey, slowly approaching me.

"Hi, Wovey," I say.

"I brought something for you," she says, holding a cloth napkin in front of her.

"What is it?" I ask, taking the makeshift package from her open palms. I open it to reveal a small chocolate cupcake. "Oh, Wovey. What is it for?"

"I hear you tell your mentor about your birthday last week," explains Wovey. "I've been waiting for my mentor to give me something I could give as a gift. He finally brought this as a good luck treat."

"Wovey, you don't have to give this to me," I say. "Take it back."

I try to return the cupcake to her, but she takes a step away from me, shaking her head. "It's yours. You can have it."

"Fine," I say, breaking the dessert in half and passing her the larger piece. "If you won't take the whole thing, at least take half."

She eyes me skeptically before taking the cupcake. "Thank you," she says when she's finished eating.

"Of course," I say.

Wovey takes a small step closer to me, hesitating a little. She seems to be weighing the options of something. After a moment, she makes up her mind and throws her arms around me in a hug. I hug her back. For a moment, I'm reminded of Millie. Her generosity and kindness is so similar to that of my sister.

"Good luck tomorrow," says Wovey.

"Thanks," I tell her. "You too."

"You'll still look out for me?" she asks.

"Of course I will," I say, affectionately ruffling her hair. "Good night, Wovey."

"Good night, Treech," she says, before turning around and hurrying over to Bobbin, her district partner.

I sit and stare at the cupcake in my hand, swallowing the bile rising in my throat. How has Wovey kept her childlike innocence over everything that's happened to her over the last few weeks. I feel like my humanity's been slowly stripping away since my name was called at the reaping.

"What's that?" a girl's voice whispers from the darkness.

I jump, turning quickly in the direction of the voice. I relax once I notice Venus emerging from the shadows. She's changed into a purple sweater with a cream pair of pants. Her red hair curls loosely around her shoulders.

"Nothing, just a gift from Wovey. The little girl from Eight," I say, getting up to join her. I unwrap the napkin to show her the cupcake

"That's so sweet," says Venus, sounding close to tears. I love how sensitive she is, it can be so endearing.

"I know. I felt terrible, so I tried to give it back to her. She wouldn't take no for an answer, so we settled on half," I say. I tear off a large piece of the cupcake, holding it out to her. "Want some?"

"No thanks. You deserve it. Why did she do it?" she asks. "There has to be a reason."

"She heard us talking about my birthday at that questionnaire thing. Said she's been waiting for a good enough gift to give me,"

"Bless her heart," says Venus, her voice breaking.

"I know. I hope she goes quickly," I say. I hate to say the words out loud, but they're true. Poor Wovey probably won't make it long in the arena, even if I keep my promise to watch out for her.