Aloe Mellark: The Hunger Games Epilogue

Chapter 4:

The walk home is a blur. I can't remember anything except for my mom's crying and my dad's consoling.
Questions whirl wildly through my brain and stomach hurts more. Why would Paylor do this? She knows why we uprised almost 20 years ago and she wants to hold another Games to prove what?

My mom is leaning on dad as they walk and dad can't move his eyes from her face. He whispers quietly to mom as she nods and sobs more. How could Paylor do this to the Mockingjay of all people! My mom was the face of the rebellion and managed to free the districts from the horrors of the games. How can Paylor do this to them both again? When we walk in the house, I walk upstairs to my room and lay face down on my bed.

All I can think of is Rye. There's no way I can let him go into these. From the videos I've seen at school, most of the deaths are done to amuse the Capitol citizens. Squirrels ate a tribute in one games, flowers were poisonous, tracker jacker stings put you in a bigger risk of death and mutts would be released when there are only a few tributes left. I think that was the 50th games, but I can't remember. Either way, there is now way I can let Rye go. I could never live with myself if he died. He's only 11. He hasn't had so many things: first kiss, first love, first house, first child. He hasn't had any of the luxuries of life.
As I worry about the next days announcement, I fall to sleep with tear staining my cheeks and my pillow.