The Boy from my Dream

Chapter 4

As the door opens my familly walks in. Immeadiatley my mother runs to me and pulls me into a hug. She starts sobbing on my shoulder as she squeezes me tight. I want to calm her down and tell her everything is alright but we both know that's not true. She sobbs for a bit longer until she pulls herself together and looks me in the eye holding my face in her hands.

"I love you so much" she says. Hearing this causes a tear to stream down my cheek. She wipes it away with her thumb and continues.

"You can do this sweatheart. Don't you forget that! You need to be strong and keep your head high. Alright?" I nod my head sniffling.

"Promise me you'll stay strong." she says with a pained voice.

"I promise mom!" I say more tears coming. "Alright." she say with a big sigh. She pulls me into one more hug and I give her a squeeze and whisper "I love you mom."

"I know Honey."she says back. She lets go and my sisters come rushing to me. I hug them both and they start to cry. They tell me how much they love me. Hearing this makes me cry even more. My sisters are my best friends and knowing that this is the last time I'll ever see them breaks my heart. After a few more tears and some hugs they go back with my mother who is now sobbing again. 

My dad walks over and gives me a hug. I hold on tight not wanting to let go. I feel so safe in his arms. This is a hug only a daddy can give.

Finally he breaks away and I see a tear form in his eye. I've never seen my father cry before.

"I love you so much Nikki. You have made me so proud." he says with sadness in his voice.

"I love you!" I say giving hime one last hug. Then, a peacekeeper comes in and says it's time to go.My family says their last goodbyes and once at the door my father turns around.

"Hey." he says. I lift my head to look at him.

"See you soon," and with that the door is closed and my family is gone. I will never see them again.

I hate the Capital for this. They say they love their country. If they really loved us we wouldn't be starving, or dying, or forced to play these Games. I try to think of any talents I have that would be useful in the arena. I'm a great swimmer! But that's not going to get me very far. I'm also very good at making friends. Could I form an alliance? Would Peeta want to form one? No, he doesn't even know   who I am. I guess I'll just have to see what I can learn before the games.

After several minutes of thinking the door opens again. Who else is coming to see me? In the doorway stands a person that I almost don't reconize. His cheery smile and warm glow is gone and is replaced by a grim face and stiff stance. The only reconizable thing about him is the scent of pastries. Why is the baker coming to see me?

"Hello Nikki." he says in a firm voice.

"Hello" I choke out.

"I'm very sorry about this bad luck that you and my son have had. I just wanted to wish you good luck and to take care of my boy." he says wincing at the last part of his sentence. I don't know what to say so I just nod. He gives me a half-hearted smile and walks out of the room shutting the door behind him. 

Take care of his boy? Does his boy even know my name? I think about swimming at the pond this morning. It feels like forever ago. I'm still trying to figure his words out when a peacekeeper walks in and tells me it's time to go. 

When Peeta and I arrive at the train station many people are gathered around to see us depart. I try to keep calm as I walk down the station's platform. Once we get to the steps of the train I pause. I take one last look at my district. A cool breeze comes and I close my eyes savoring the moment. I feel very calm until Effie's shrill voice pierces through my ears with her awful accent.