Becoming Adamant [#1]

Chapter 28 - Coming Home

You might be wondering what Blight does in my room while I’m sleeping. Well, I’m wondering about that too while I sleep, but I know I won’t ask him. I’m sure the answer will be painfully boring and a part of me just wants him to sit there. Just for me to know that someone who’s been there is there with me actually helps. Especially considering that I’m coming home tomorrow and I need someone who’s been there to take me through it.

I actually manage to sleep the whole night through this time. It’s the first night since the Games even began, that I’ve managed to sleep through the night. In my sleep, I manage to get to a place where I’m home, only it’s not my real home. It’s a different home in a different world where the Hunger Games doesn’t exist, where nation is a peace and the Districts are doing so much better. A place where I get to be with Axel and re-explore the kiss that he planted on my lips before the Games…

…I’m saddened when I wake up to realize that it was all a dream. Of course it was a dream! That world was too good to be true really. At least when you live in Panem and the one person you probably would’ve needed more than anything has been killed by that giant bastard known as Snow. I sigh as I stare at the ceiling and just experience that fantasy world just fade away into empty space. As I sit up, I see Blight has fallen asleep on the chair opposite to the bed. I just stare at him for some reason. I find myself slightly smiling at the sight of his funny stature, but it doesn’t take long before he wakes up…as if he was waking up from something better too.

He rubs his eyes before he looks more directly at me. “How did ya sleep, kid?” “Well, for once, I actually slept. I guess…I know that’s better than nothing.” I then let out as I see him nod agreeing with a smile on his face. “Well, I’m glad…” He says before he checks his arm-watch. “…we’re going to be back in District 7 in a few hours. I suggest you get ready for that.” Blight then says as he gets up on his feet and leaves the room. I can hear him coughing far off in the corridor. Man, he’s got it bad alright.

As I get out of bed, I walk over to the window to look at the landscape that I’m just flying by in this train. I know that in an hour, I’ll be seeing lumberjacks out there. I know that the smell of pine-trees will fill the air and the moment I step off the this train, I’ll be home. Still, I can’t just help but think that I’m never coming home again. It’s like there is this vital piece of me missing and I can’t find it.

I turn back towards the wardrobe Lavio so graciously designed for me and then try to find something homely to put on. I don’t want to arrive in all fancy Capitol-clothing…I don’t want the District to think of me as one of the Capitol-douche-bags. I am from District 7, and that’s what I want them to believe. As I get out to the main-area I see Blight and Dess are sitting there in silence…either that or I’m not supposed to hear what they’re talking about. I simply sit down by the table and try to eat something…well, no, I don’t. I mean, how can I? In less than an hour, I’m home. I’ll be home, but at the same time I won’t.

Blight leaves the room after a while, coughing on the way. He can’t be having a lot of time left when I think it through. He’s been getting worse by the minute since I won the Games. I should probably take advantage of having him around during my time at home at the Victor’s Village…whenever I get there obviously. I know I’ll have Dess around when Blight’s gone, but that’s not 24/7. It’s more once a year, rarely twice if I ever manage to mentor someone to victory…which I sincerely doubt.

“I heard you got some long-wanted sleep last night.” I hear Dess say as I snap out of my thoughts. There is something more homely to his voice though, not much of that disgusting Capitol-ring to it. I’ve gotten so used to it, in fact that didn’t take long, that it makes me sick to my stomach. “I slept alright…” I let out as I simply see him nod while looking down at his coffee. He seems to be deep in thought. Even though he doesn’t say a word about it, I’m pretty sure I know what’s on his mind.