leap frog }} Cato :: drought plot

Today was the day that me and my brother would be going to District 11. It was an exciting ay for me and I could barely contain it as I stepped off of the train that and onto the solid of a new earth. How long had I been trying to escape the hold of my father? For how long had I been unable to think of anything else but him and what might happen in the next hour? I didn't know if he was still after me and Cyrus, I had no idea when we would be safe. But. But I did know that begin here, in District 11 was going to be like a holiday of some sorts for me. I knew that it was going to be a place full of grief and people who were suffering, but for a change it wasn't going to be me who was suffering. I was going to be free, even if it was for only a little while. I was going to be free, I was going to be able to sleep, eat and take my eyes off Cyrus… and for the first time in my life I was going to be able to me myself, to relax.

A smile tugs at the edge of my lips and the feeling is so foreign that at first I was quite sure that there was something wrong with me. Don't take me wrong, I have smiled in the past few years, but the smile just hadn't been genuine, it had been more for comfort than for anything else. But this smile, now, was a real one, it was one that was just another sing of my happiness to be free.

It only takes a moment for the Peacekeepers to usher us away to the places that we would call our home or the short amount of time we were going to be here. Instantly my eyes begin to search for Cyrus, who was a few people behind me. I smile at him as I catch his eye. He smiles back and I turn to the front, all thoughts about him being filed into the back of my mind. I didn't need to worry about him today, today the only person I needed to worry about was myself. Ahhh, it felt so good. It felt so good not to have to think about anyone but myself.

***

My hands dig into the bone dry dirt which was beneath my feet, the sun pounding like an angry devil against my skin. Hastily, I wipe the sweat that had formed on my brow, but instead of whipping it away I only smeared it with the dirty on my arms, covering my sticky face with a thin layer on mud. Damnit, I curse as I came to my feet and towards the shade of one of the few trees left alive in this whole sector. When I had arrived here I had only been able to think abut how happy I was to be free fro the thoughts of my father… it had only taken me a few mere hours to see the destruction of the drought making my happiness die, only to be replaced with concern. The people of this district were suffering to an extent to which I could almost relate too and it made me feel guilty at the happiness which had filled me a few hours ago.

I shouldn't have been so self centred. I was here to help people, to rebuild this broken state, not to enjoy me short period of freedom. (Disappointment surged through me which I hastily tried to push away there was no time to think about myself, just like at home, there was never time for me.)

Sighing I lick my parched lips, my eyes looking around for the wattle bottle with my name scribbled onto it. I see it almost instantly and begin to wander over to it, my body leaving the shelter of the shade for a moment as my hand snaked down to grab the plastic bottle. There was barely even a mouthful left and when I pressed the bottle to my lips and tipped he water into my mouth I got an unpleasant surprise at the overt warm water that slipped down my throat. “Yuck,” I scowl before tossing the bottle to the ground. Had I made the right decision coming here? I ask myself flatly, but it only takes a moment for me to forget about the question and to replace it statements about how of course I should be here. These people needed me and I was all for helping people. I was a horrible person I conclude with a sigh as I climb to my feet and look plainly at the dry fields which were calling my name.