Oof this is by far overdue, but tbh I kinda forgot about this book. However, the chapter is finally here! Thanks for the idea @keelie119
Enobaria POV
I watched as clove got up for another day in her busy life. Each day that has passed has seemed to create a new toll on my youngest daughter, and seemed to crush her spirit more and more.
When she was younger, before being introduced to knives, she was lively and hopeful for the future. All my daughter wanted to do was become a singer, but as she got older, she understood that in our life, it was either become a victor, a fallen tribute, or a miner; she also understood two of them were not okay with our family.
"I'm going to the training center, mom," clove told me, grabbing a water.
"Don't you want something to eat?" I asked her in confusion. She always had something for breakfast, no matter how small it came out to be.
"I'm fine," she said, her voice nearly two pitches lower.
I nod, looking at the ground. "Stay safe, honey."
She looks up at me in shock, her hand falling from the front door knob. She strolls up to me, casually pressing the back of her hand on my forehead. "Are you okay, mom?"
I nod, gently slapping her hand off my head. "I'm fine, but you're clearly not. This.. all of this, it's tearing you apart, I can see that, baby."
"Baby?" She cries in surprise, "Mom, you're not alright. Nothing in my life feels normal, and then you start calling me pet names."
I sigh. "Clove, I know you didn't want anybody to know about your relationship with Cato, but everyone does, and it's going to have to display it in a month. You need to get used to it while you have the chance. Start around the district, around people you know who aren't family. It will help, I promise."
She nods, brushing a loose piece of her hair back behind her ear. "You're right," she breathes out, "thank you." She collapses into me, hugging me tightly. I hug her back immediately, but what I didn't realize was she was crying. "I'm scared, mama."
I was in shock. I've never seen Clove cry, not since she was two. That was also the last time she called me mama. I rubbed circles into her back, almost immediately reacting. "It'll be fine, I promise." I burrow my face in her hair. "I promise."
After awhile, she jolts away from me. "I'm gonna be late to work!" She announces.
I shake my head. "Call the training center and say you're not feeling well. If they have any complaints then they can voice them at our front door directly."
"Nobody would go for that," she smiles, though her cheeks red and eyes puffy.
I pet her hair back a little, her ponytail a little ruined. "Exactly." I grin, teeth baring and she walks over to the phone with a grin.
"Hello, this is Clove, I won't be coming in today.. I'm sick.. I'm going to cut you off there, if you would like to say something about my choice, feel free to come to my address; 25 Victors Lane, it's in the victors village, of course. My whole family is off today, anyways, so someone will be at the door to answer it." I felt pride swell through me as she held herself together over the phone, a devious look on her face. "Since there's nothing either of us have left to say over the phone, I will be going now. Have a good day!" She mustered some fake excitement at the end, and hung up with a smile.
"Looks like my day is free now."
I give her a toothless smile, "Would you like to go to the shopping center on the other side of town?" I asked her.
"Of course I would," she responded, "just.. let me change, make it look like I haven't been crying."
"Of course," I hugged her one more time, then pulled back, caressing her face, "I'm so proud of you."
Her cheeks turned red slightly. "Thank you, mom, I really needed that."
She went upstairs, and I watched her go. We may not have always been a perfect family, but we're all making up for it now, which is all that matters. My heart felt whole as I made pancakes for the rest of the house, after realizing it was only 5:58.
