Exemplary

Chapter Three: Behave

Just as soon as I fell into the world of sleep, I was snatched right out of it by the painted claws of my mother, Abigail Snow. 

Although she's only mentioned it to me once, my mother's birth name is Carla Drow. Of course, upon marring my father, there was no need for her maiden name but the reasoning behind her changing her first name is, to this day, unknown to me. Perhaps it was peer pressure that made my mother into what she is today. If that's the case, what does that spell out for me in the future? In pictures that are older than I am, she had beautiful rust colored hair and eye brows to match. She looked so much simpler than she does now, after marring into the family that presided over the Capitol. 

She was so much beautiful to me then, than she is now. 

After two failed attempts of waking me up by the sound of her heavenly high pitched, thick accented voice, I finally heard the footsteps of my mother retreat from my bedroom. I let out a silent sigh of relief as I sank further into my bed, preparing myself to fall back asleep.

My ears twitched slightly as the quick footsteps of my mother reentered my bedroom. The stopped at my bedside, as I could feel the slight heat that radiated from her person on my arm that hung on the edge of my bed. 

A few moments passed before my mother took a light hold on my hand and dipped it into a bowl of freezing water.

Her satisfied smile is the first thing I see when my eyes shoot open in response to the cool liquid. 

"Wake up, wake up, wake up!" She chanted, placing the small cup of water onto my bedside table. "The Chariot Runs and tribute interviews are set to begin in two hours, and you haven't even chosen your outfit for the day yet," she explained, pulling the warm cover from the rest of my body, exposing my warm skin to the cool temperature of my room. "Come, come, Aileta will help you get ready for the day." 

I watched with squinted, frustrated eyes as my mother walked out my bedroom door only to replaced with our Avox, Aileta. 

I flashed a small smile her way before I finally swung my legs over the side of my bed, willing myself to get up. 

I made my way to my restroom, hearing Aileta quietly trail behind me. Before she entered the restroom, I turned on my heel to face her, a smile faintly on my face. 

"Aileta, instead of helping me get ready, could you decide what I should wear today? I think I've got everything covered in here." I gestured to the restroom I stood in, showing her that I didn't desire her help with anything in the bathroom. 

I couldn't. It's one thing to help around the house, but it's something else to be forced to aid someone with their personal responsibilities - including their personal hygiene. Although it may defeat her purpose, asking her to aid me in those things would make me feel that I've given her the title of a slave. 

Aileta gave a short nod and a light smile as if saying thank you. I also nodded lightly before reaching for the silver door knob of my bathroom door, and shutting the door lightly. 

My mother may treat Aileta as a slave, but for me, she's the closest thing I have to a friend in this household. 

◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ ◤◢ 

After taking a shower and gracing my face with the light makeup that I wear occasionally, I finally emerged from my restroom allowing the last plums of steam to escape from it's holdings.