Aloe Mellark: The Hunger Games Epilogue

Chapter 12:

I wake to the sound of Effie tapping on the door. She's screeching in her annoying capital accent about how it's another "Big big day! "
I sit up, and remember I'm not in my room, or in my house. I'm on a train awaiting my death. I get up slowly and walk to my dresser. I see a pair of skinny jeans and a sweater. I throw it on and walk out of the large room that is now my home for the next few days.

Almost everyone is at the table already.  Rye is eating a huge pile of pancakes, dad and mom are eating a muffin, and Gale is eating a big plate of bacon and eggs. I ignore everyone's eyes and sit. When an older lady with red hair and a pale face walks up with a plate of eggs and bacon, I don't resist. As the lady puts down the plate, I admire the amount on it. My stomach growls and I see there are eggs and bacon. But there is a small pile of white things in my plate that are gross looking.
"What are these white things?" I ask the red headed lady. When she just stares at me I look at my parents. They look at each other then at me.
"Dear, she's an Avox." Dad reply hesitantly.
"What's an Av---oh!" I cut myself off. I learned about these at school. President Snow would cut the tongues of enemies or criminals to make them know who was boss. There are still many around today. Mom looks upset whenever the red haired lady comes around, and when I ask her about it she just smiles and says it's nothing. But I don't think it's nothing.

This trip is ringing a lot of bells for my parents but they refuse to share with me. I eat the rest of my meal in peace, eating all but the white things. I push my plate to the side and walk out of the dining room and find Gale standing outside my door.
"Hey. Wanna talk?" He asks more telling than asking.
"Sure?" I reply a little uncertain. We walk into my room and I sit on my bed, and Gale pulls up a chair from the table.
"You do know you can show some emotions, right?" He asks. "I mean, you just got picked to go into the Hunger Games and I've never seen you cry or look remotely upset." He smiles a sad smile, and sits with his elbows resting on his knees.
"I don't want the sponsors to thing I'm weak." I reply. It's true though. I don't want the sponsors to think I'm some crybaby.
"Well, you are human, you know. You are allowed to show some emotions. " Gale smiles a genuine smile and there's a question that's been eating me since my name got called.
"Why did you volenteer? " I ask.
"Why not?" He reply, trying to avoid the question. 
"Well you have a wife to look after, and a baby on the way. Why would you throw that all away for Rye?" I ask. I'm thankful, but at the same time I'm really confused.
"Well," he sits and stares at the wall panel for a while, deep in thought.  "When your mother got reaped when we were younger, I wished everyday that I could take her place and save her from the pain. It was to late though. Peeta got called and they got pulled away before I could volunteer." He stops for a minute and shifts positions in his chair. "Your mom and dad have had enough bad luck in their life. Both their kids going into the games would have need ten times worse than death itself for them. I felt like it was up to me to help Katniss and Peeta finally. May be alittle late, 20 years late to be exact, but better now than never." He looks me in the eyes and I rest my hand on his calloused ones.
"I'm going to make sure you are the one going home," he says bluntly, also taking me by surprise "That is my dying wish, and you can't make me change it."