Through a Fox's Eyes

Chapter 2

Marvel.

His memory still stays in me. How we met, how he taught me to throw spears, how I can never aim at the apples, and how he laughs at me every time I miss. How he stroked my red hair. How he told me he loved me, and how I told him I loved him back. His blonde hair, his blue eyes, I remember the last time I saw them. It was spring, and spring is the busiest time of the year. District 5 has to produce enough electricity, it is time for harvesting in other districts. Marvel was mad, his father forcing him to work on the plants. He burnt his arm, and he rushed to me, without hesitation.

“My arm was burned. Stupid electricity. Stupid Capitol. Stupid Panem.”

“Don’t talk like that. It’s our destiny. It’s been like this for a long time.”

“But I can never love working in the plants. It’s a device made to pleasure the Capitol and to destroy us.”

I can see tears in his eyes, and I can see him fight them back. He always say these things. I know what he wanted. Change.

“I’m gonna run away, Run away to Capitol. Enjoy their life there”

“You can enter Capitol if they didn’t invite you.”

“Then I’ll go to easy going districts. You’ll see. When I figure a way to stay there, I’ll come get you. You and Suezette. Then we’ll live in the easy districts. Then we’ll be happy.”

He held my hand, I glanced around, the coast is clear. It’s the tough situation. Relationships under 18 is prohibited in District 5. But we manage to escape the rule anyway. He leaned forward to kiss me, I hesitate at first, but gave in afterwards. His lips were warm and soft, and it reminded me of home. Home, complete family, and happiness, security. That’s what Marvel gave me.

“If I run away, will you wait for me?” he asked.

“Only if you promise to come back.”

“I promise. I can never leave my life behind.”

And that was goodbye. I can never understand how fast things happened. How he escaped and ran to the woods. How he disappeared, how his father was whipped because they thought he was an accomplice. How everyone was given a punishment of working 24 hours for 7 days, all because of Marvel. And how I waited for him, and how he never returned.

I never became open with my mother, and the only place where I can tell everything is Suezette. She became my Marvel when Marvel was gone.

“We can never tell what happened to him there.”

“But he promised me. He would come back. And the Marvel I know never breaks a promise.”

“An Alive Marvel never breaks a promise.”

That made me laugh and cry at the same time. She was right. Maybe Marvel died, considering how far his journey was, and the endless possibilities. But even though those things crossed my mind, there was no way I can forget the first boy who made my heart beat.