//beyond these walls// [Raseri]

Sarita Wolfe

Outside the sky waits,
Beckoning, beckoning,
Just beyond the bars.
How can you remain,
Staring at the rain,
Maddened by the stars?

Thick, muggy air hovered in each room, laying on everything and threatening to drown each Wolfe child left. The air, which is usually so sharp and chill every other time of year, is unbearable hot and humid. Sarita's thread wilts in her hands, and every garment she retouches seems to fall limp inside the thick walls of her room. Sweat builds at her hairline, making the back of neck grossly wet and her face damp. Even holding the needle in her hand makes her fingers moist with more and more sweat. Every time she touches anything the dust sticks to her like she was a magnet for all things dirty. Tying her hair up didn't do as much good as she hoped it would.

She had started the day in a short sleeved dress, stockings, and a light sweater. By noon she had stripped the sweater and the tights until she was debating the likelihood of one of her family members barging into her room while she sewed naked. If she hadn't been appalled at the idea she might have forgone the dress, instead she stayed in her yellow cotton prison.

Her mother had left an hour ago to bargain for a bolt of fabric and few other bits and things for the house. She wouldn't be back until sometime after nightfall. Her eyes flicked to the window, and then to the gray door that cut her off from the rest of the house. Her little brother was asleep and her older one was at work and... well, that's all she really had now, isn't? At least it's a lot easier to sneak out... she guessed.

Putting her embroidery down on her sheets, she tip toed towards the door. The halls were just as muggy as her room, and she couldn't skip down the stairs faster. At the front door to The Cold House, a name which as of right now seemed very ill fitting, she slipped her feet into brown shoes and yanked the door open.

While the sun was still as hot as ever outside, a giant gust of wind whipped her hair around and gave the girl the first feeling of fresh air in weeks. A year ago she would have slipped back inside to slave over her work for the rest of the day. A year ago the feeling of freedom would not have tempted her as it does right now.

She closed the heavy door behind her, careful to keep it from slamming as that would some how make her sneaking out better. Walking to the gate, she savored the feeling of her dress fluttering in the breeze. The cool air on her legs was a blessing, even touching the hot metal latch to step out into the street was greeted with welcome. The Wolfe children used to play outside all the time. Running all over District Eight like a couple of wild hares, but after their father's death they were confined to The Cold House by their mother but even that couldn't save them.

Aria and Bran would have wanted her to leave. Even though they're gone she can still hear them pressuring her to let them out so they can play in the sunshine. Sarita likes to think that they're watching her somewhere out in the universe and smiling that she finally stepped out of that cramped old house.

Without a real idea of where she was going, she started down the street leaving the looming dark house behind her. It would still be there when she got back- that's for sure. That house has been in District Eight since before it was a district. Her father used to tell her how the house had survived since the old times and through the rebel war. It had seen the start of Panem and the first Reaping. Well, now it was seeing Sarita Wolfe's liberation.

As she neared the square she looked carefully at the shops lining the streets. A grocery store with some fresh summer greens, an apothecary, a bookstore, and a tiny jewelry store. Looking into the window of "Eight Carats" she admired the pieces on display. There was a large gold medallion on a thin chain with some old faded design etched into it. No one was inside since few citizens in the District could afford anything as extravagant. The only jewelry Sarita had seen were wedding bands on adult's fingers.

She walked further down the street and peered into the bookstore. She had never been inside of it before, and she could always use a good book. She had a few coins in her pocket, maybe she could find something. Mounting the steps, she looked around the building. Wooden floors squeaked under her feet, but despite the aging building it seemed welcoming. There were a few people in the store but no one she knew. Sarita realized she didn't have much friends... or hardly any. She had finished school so all her time was spent at home.

Sarita moved into one of the aisles and started reading the spines of the books. The print of the covers were faded and hard to read.

"How is anyone supposed to read these?" she muttered to herself, squinting at the books.