Haymitch's Love: The Untold Story

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Maysilee: The Reaping

Maysilee lies on her bed, staring blankly out the open window, allowing the cool breath of the wind to nip at her face. Just like every year, the usual swarm of butterflies flutter in her stomach and she can't help but feel slightly dizzy. She doesn't want to go to the reaping. Even thinking about it makes her feel sick. Since age twelve, being reaped has been her largest fear, and this year, with the Quarter Quell constantly looming in the back of her mind, the intensity of her fear has done anything but subdue.

She lies there feeling like a coward. She shouldn't be feeling sorry for herself, why can't she have Nemit's courage and face the reaping each year with her head held high, only caring about the ones she loves?

Maysilee forces herself to stand, closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath. She can do this, she must face her fears. She wonders if anybody else gets as nervous as her for reapings.

Performing simple tasks suddenly seems incredibly difficult. She breaks down what she must do next into small steps as if she were a young child. Alright now Maysilee, it's time to get dressed… First, walk to the closet… Next, pick a dress. She does exactly this, slipping on whichever dress her hand brushes first, then, without looking in the mirror, pushes herself from the room and descends the stairs. She meets her sister at the front of the house, along with her mother and father, and together, the four of them walk down to the square.

As they walk, Maysilee's feelings only intensify. No matter what she does to try to calm herself, nothing works. She looks down at her feet and counts her steps. Breathe … your name will not be called… you have no tesserae … the odds are in your favor… But then again, the Quell...Thinking only makes Maysilee feel worse. Indeed, she has not been signed up for tesserae and never has been. Her family has enough money to get on without it and she is very grateful, though she can't stop herself from feeling embarrassed when she is around people like Nemit or Haymitch, who grew up having next to nothing.

Haymitch… It has been nearly five years since she told him her secret… Nearly five years since he walked away laughing his head off, leaving her feeling empty and brokenhearted… Haymitch … The boy who she can't help but have feelings for no matter how much she tries to convince herself otherwise... He is blunt and to the point, speaking his mind and never getting embarrassed, never caring what others think of him. Sometimes, it's as if he has the ability to completely switch off his emotions, become a different person, a machine like creature. Maybe this is why he and Nemit make such a good couple, she thinks to herself bitterly. They are both so strong and brave. Maysilee is the exact opposite. She is overly emotional, getting teary eyed at the slightest things, and worries about everyone's opinion. She has absolutely zero courage. Just look at her now, her name has not even been called and already she is going crazy.

Finally, they reach the crowded city square which has been decorated with cheerful banners and colours. 'The 50th Hunger Games!' 'Happy Quarter Quell!' The signs read. The realization of the Quell's meaning is finally sinking in. Meant to make the Games more intense, double the amount of tributes will be chosen this year. Forty-two people will soon be in an arena trying to kill each other… Maybe even trying to kill me, she thinks. Maysilee has trouble squashing an ant; how on earth would she kill another human being?

Before Maysilee and her sister join the crowd of nervous children, their mother pulls them over.

'I love you girls more than anything.'

And with that, she gently kisses each of them on the forehead and, in turn, presses something into their sweaty hands. Maysilee opens her palm to see a golden circle, an intricate design etched into the center. A mockingjay, she realizes... She turns to her sister, only to see a similar design made into a hair piece.