While life can be hard sometimes living in district 7, being with my best friend Lamina makes it all worth it. I met her back when we were young and still in school before we started working in the lumberyard together.
We were both the scared kids who didn't want to leave their mamas. We had sat next to each other, and bonded over the mutual tears. Ever since then she is my world.
I woke up this morning with the knowledge that we had our one day off from work that we get each year. The fateful day of the reaping. My first thought was how is Lamina feeling. I hope she was okay. I hate seeing her suffer. Lamina is so kind and genuinely sweet. It pains me knowing she has to go through this.
She never took the reapings well. I remember our first reaping she had cried the whole time. I remember holding her hand and telling that the odds of her being picked were slim to none. I myself was scared too, but more so for her. I know that I couldn't function if she were gone.
As I walk outside I see the gloomy grey color of the sky. Seeing the sky I try to shake off the feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. I walk faster cause I just need to see Lamina. I know seeing her will help.
As I near closer to where the reaping is held I can see a patch of red hair ahead of me that instantly catches my eye. "Lamina" I yell.
There she pops her up searching for the sound of my voice and she sends me a shy smile as she jogs over. The second she close enough I pull her into a tight embrace and bury my face into her shoulder, as she does the same.
"How are you feeling sweets?" I say softly as I pull away to look at her. She looks as beautiful as always.
"I'm alright I guess. Not great considering what day it," she responds while grabbing my hand leading me to go sit before the ceremony. "How about you?"
"I'm fine, just happy to see your face" I say with a smile. She blushes and I can't help, but admire the dusting of freckles on her face. "I can't wait for this to all be over. It's our last reaping, you know?" something about my statement made my anxiety increase.
I know there are hundreds,maybe thousands, of names in that bowl, but some of them have her name. That fact makes me feel uneasy.
"Yes I am aware of that" Lamina says quietly. "It's still scary though, You never know what could happen" She says as tears fill her eyes.
"Oh I'm sorry dear" I say pulling her into a side hug, "It'll be okay, we've made it this far" I say trying to convince. Part feels like I said that for myself.
We then just sit there in each others embrace until peacekeepers start rounding up the kids for the reaping. We know the drill by now, so we go get checked in then stand by each other.
After our first reaping we swore to be by each others sides for every ceremony we have to attend. Now here we are hand in hand watching a bored looking lady walk tot he stage.
"Hello ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 10th annual hunger games" she says. "first the boys"
"Treech Willows" oh that's rough I think to myself. Me and Treech work together quite often and he is quite good company. Treech then walks to the stage and I can't help, but prey for my friends.
"Now the girls" she then pulls a names from the girls bowl. "Lamina Sawyer".
I immediately feel my heart drop to the floor as I look over to my favorite girl. I see her with streams of tears flowing from her eyes. I don't hesitate to hug her like it will be the last time.
Why her? Why Sweet Lamina of all people? People I feel hand pull the back of shirt preventing me from hugging her any longer. "I love you" I weakly say as she is pulled to the stage.
"District 7's tributes people" says the lady. I then see peacekeepers drag Lamina and Treech away from the crowd. Lamina stares the entire way. I see her figure get smaller and smaller, and then shes gone.
That's when I realize there is tears in my own eyes. I was far too distracted to even notice them there. Slowly the crowd thins and I am left there standing alone.
I look over to the spot me and Lamina were sat before the reaping, and make my way over there and sit. It doesn't take long for the sky to match my mood again.
Pellets of rain start falling from the sky matching my sobs. I know there is a chance she could come home, but I don't want to get my hopes up.
Over then next few weeks I work on autopilot. I can't do anything, but work or I'll think of her. I'll think about how she is. Is she sad? Is she hungry? Does she have support? All things that could make my brain spiral.
After a long day of chopping wood I discover from a coworker, the games ended earlier that day. There it is, that feeling of dread in my gut again, now mixed with sorrow.
I quickly walk to where the reapings would be held and I see it. A rectangular box with "district 7 girl" lazily painted on it. I slowly put my hand on what I now know is a coffin. As it starts to set in I slowly drop to the ground and cradle the box. I can't help, but cry my little eyes out.
The anguish I feel in my soul is like nothing I have every felt before. I would say it feels like a punch to the heart, but I left my heart with Lamina. Who is now gone.
I look towards the box in my arms and think my dear sweet Lamina is in there. Gone forever. Shes so close, but so far gone. Lamina a ray of light in the darkness that will never shine again.
