It's a Hell of a Feeling Though {Aurora/Catherine} JB

After meeting with Severus Ward, it was time for me to meet with Aurora LaChance. She was a very pretty young woman with a not so pretty thing that she was going to have to face. Whether or not she survived being in the arena, it certainly wouldn't be a pleasant experience. I could never imagine a sane person genuinely enjoying having to spend their time fighting in a death match in the Hunger Games arena. It'd been eighty-one years, and all of this was still going on. I could remember the years where I was in the reaping, terrified that I might be chosen, and just hoping and praying that it wouldn't happen. I'd imagine that the children of District Three still hoped and prayed like I did back then, now.

Had Aurora LaChance hoped and prayed not to be chosen for the Games, or had she wanted that to be her fate? I couldn't imagine anyone ever wanting that to be their fate. She didn't seem like that was what had been going through her mind at the reaping, judging just by looking at her, but I couldn't be sure, as I wasn't inside of her head. I couldn't read minds, but maybe, just maybe, that was a good thing.

Going into the room where Aurora was sent chills down my spine in a similar way to how it had when I went in to see Severus. It, once again, reminded me of saying goodbye to my own children, Bolts and Florence. I had to shake these thoughts from my head once again, though. I suppose it really was a good thing that people couldn't read minds, or I'm sure that I'd get in trouble with the Peacekeepers for thinking the things that go through my head as mayor. I had to behave, though. I'd just become mayor, and I wasn't going to blow it. I was here as mayor to help the people, and that's exactly what I was about to do as I went into this room with Aurora LaChance.

I gave a gentle smile when I entered the room where the girl was, and I cleared my throat gently enough to gain her attention without being rude about it.

"Miss LaChance," I said, bowing my head a bit. Then, I extended my hand for a handshake in greeting. "I'm not sure if you recognize me, but I'm Catherine Spark, District Three's new mayor." I told her this to preface what I was going to say in a way of letting her know why I was there when we'd never actually met before.

"I wanted to let you know that myself and I'm sure many other people in District Three have confidence in you. I want you to know that I care about your well-being, as well as that of every single citizen in this District." I paused for a moment, trying to find a more personal way of saying things to her without sounding too un-mayor-like.

"Two of my children were chosen for the Games in the past, and they both fought hard, knowing that they were loved and had somewhere to call home if they were to come back," I explained. "I want you to know that you have that, too, okay?"

I knew it was a lot to be throwing at the girl before she even had the opportunity to say a single word, so I stopped talking, giving her a chance to speak if she had a desire to do so.