It's a sunny day is district two I think to myself. I have the day off today, because its the day where all the new peacekeepers are training, so they don't want the workers to get in the way.
Funny because they would be getting in our way, but hey I don't mind the free time. It's also kinda funny because they don't really train for long, before they are let out and roam the area. I can tell they have probably gotten out recently cause there are several at the town market currently.
You can tell when they are fresh based on there mannerisms and whether they mingle with citizens or not. The old ones are usually too tired and burnt out to care about being polite. Or about being sober.
They all look weirdly happy for young adults preparing to become assholes who'll take away our freedom. Well the little freedom that we have.
I got lucky that I never got reaped. A couple months ago was the last ceremony that I had to attend, and I got out of it safely. So now I just work, and hope for the best in life. I'm an optimist so that doesn't come hard to me.
My old best friend Sejanus Plinth taught me how to be happy go lucky, and how there is always good in the world. If he hadn't taught me that I don't know where I would have been after the war. We all lost so much, and it didn't help that I lost him too. Lost him to the capital that is.
He's still alive I presume. His father is a powerful man now, so I can't really imagine anything bad happening to my old friends. I miss him dearly, but the thought of him still brings a smile to my face.
As I glance around the different vendors in the market I can see a very polite looking man. presumably a new peacekeeper, trying to purchase fruit from an older woman. I recognize her because I have bought stuff from before, and I know she has trouble hearing from trauma caused by bombings.
"Um excuse me sir. She can't hear you very well. Helga has trouble hearing when people speak to her" I say to the man.
He looks at me with a smile, and says "Oh I know of that already. I have met her before back when I was young. Thank you for telling me though"
"No problem" I say in response. He looks familiar, and alluded to having know her before. Its curious to me so I wait by as he makes his purchase so I can speak to him again "She's a sweetheart isn't she?"
"She's a lovely lady. I am glad to be back home again, so I can see her" he says with a certain friendly warmth to his voice. A warmth that I haven't experienced since the boy I was thinking of earlier left.
I think about it for a second before asking "I don't mean to be rude or invasive. What do you mean by that? If you have lived here before, how are you a peacekeeper?"
"Well I used to live here when I was young. After the war my dad took the side of the capital, and gained wealth. So I had to move there when I was a boy. I don't agree with his choice though" he says almost sadly. His words confirm all of my suspisions.
"Sejanus" I whisper.
He timidly looks at me for a second before quietly responding "how do you know my name?" It doesn't take long for recognition to kick in and a smile to form "____!"
"Yes it's me!" I say excitedly as we embrace one another.
After we break "It has been so long! How are you? How's life? How's work? Where do you work? What have you been doing?" Sejanus asks me very quickly.
"Woah calm down Sejanus I can't answer five questions at once. But I have been good, lives fine. How about you though? How has the capital treated you?" I ask him.
