Hope In Our Eyes #GoldStarAwards2017Winner

Hope from a Costume (Mackenzie)

I yelp as streaming hot water suddenly gets poured over my head.

"Sorry dear!" Chirps the green-haired woman who's currently washing my hair.

As soon as the train arrived in the Capitol, River and I were whisked away to this place they call Remake Center to be washed, plucked, and scrubbed for the Tribute Parade.

I hold in a tear as another woman with at least fifteen earrings in each ear rips up a section of hair from my leg. Ugh. Why do they care so much? In like three days I'm just gonna die.

Finally, after three hours of beauty treatment they announce that I'm ready to meet my stylist.

They leave and a man, probably in his late thirties, enters the room. He has light aqua hair and weird green eyebrows. His outfit consists of tight black pants and boots, and a long, loose rainbow. It's an ugly outfit. But obviously I don't say it out loud since he's supposedly going to help me get sponsors, which will hopefully keep me alive. He looks me up and down before handing me a robe and inviting me to sit.

"So," He says, plopping his feet up on the coffee table in front of us. "You must be Mackenzie. I'm Landon."

"Yeah."

"Well, you're very pretty.With a little makeup and a decent outfit we'll make you look so beautiful that everyone in the Capitol will want to sponsor you!"

"Thanks," I say. "But I don't know ..."

"C'mon, dear!" He says merrily. "You do wanna stay alive, don't you?"

Even being in the Capitol, he must have realized that comment hurt because his face softens and he reaches out to grab my hand.

"I'm sorry," He says. I know he is but I just can't help but think he's like everyone else. All nice until we go into the arena and they bet on us like we're items.

"It's fine." I mutter, looking down at my lap.

He stands up and walks to a rack in a corner where a garment bag is hanging.

"Close your eyes," He instructs after I've taken off my robe.

I hear him unzip the bag and then the soft fabric slides over me. He goes around, tugging at the fabric and then steps away.

"You can open your eyes." I do.

I turn to face the mirror and my jaw drops. Usually since District Eight specializes in textiles the tributes are wearing some bright colored, over the top costume. But not this one. Landon dresses me in a slightly strange outfit but it's loads better than the other ones I've seen. It's what I can describe as a peach colored gown except at the top there's layers of this stuff that kind of resembles burlap, but it's much softer.

"You look beautiful!" He announces. "The sponsors will be flocking to you!"

I drop my head and play with Devin's necklace.

"Dearie, what's wrong? Don't you like it?"

"No, of course I love it."

"Then don't look so dead in the eyes, sponsors won't like that. You need hope. Not luck, but hope. Hope is the thing that will get you through these games."