Fiona Zachariah; Resub - D9

Fiona

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People died. That's just the way life was in the districts. It wasn't prejudice. The reaper didn't care of the age or shape or anything of the person it was after. It came when the time was right and for twenty three children each year, the reaper was forced to condemn them. My time had came twice. Once when I could no sooner protect my family from the flames like I couldn't protect Carmen in the games. The blade pierced my eye and my heart stopped.

I was dead.

The capitol played Ripred and marveled in their beautiful cessation of a life once more.

My body ceased to exist for a moment in time before the evil that reigned in the capitol intervened with my fate to rejoined my family. Their faces were within my grasp, I was almost there.

I hate them for it.

I woke, bandaged and in pain and confused for I had been in the games and facing a set of foes that wanted me dead and in a hurry only to wake, alive, and brought back to this world that I didn't want to return to. I was on the verge of reuniting with my little sisters and my brother. My parents were waiting for me on the other side with their hands outstretched. Once again, I was whisked away by someone's awful plan to resurrect my life. The tributes of the eightieth games were forced to go back to their lives with scars, both mental and physical, and expect them to remain grateful for sparing their lives one time for the quarter quell.

They were Ripred, after all.

I came back to the district completely broken. I returned to district nine almost a hero even though I wasn't such a thing. Harsh words were mixed in with those still grieving their own children that perished in the games. Several times over, I heard the pain in their voices when they talked to me. They envied the chance I got to survive and in seventy nine years, no one was ever given such an opportunity or gift. I humbly apologized to each and every one of them that commented such a thing in my presence because I felt I had taken something from them that wasn't supposed to be mine. I didn't deserve it in the least.

Yet, here I stand a broken girl with missing fingers and a 2D way of life.

My grandpa died moments after I had been reaped. That day I expected to go back home and rushed away from him only to come back empty handed and broken hearted to find that his funeral had already taken place and a grave dug beside him for my return. I had a burden on my heart. A constant reminder plagues me daily as I live in his house and see him in everything I do. Every room I go in is a moment to relive a day where he bandaged my knee or cooked me breakfast. Where he would stay up with me late at night to finish my homework. He was the best sort of person and I miss him dearly.

A few days after I returned, I had the company of a boy come to visit. His name is Fable and unbeknownst to me, he's had a crush on me for years and never once said a thing. I wish he would have said something before I had been taken by the capitol's greed.

Time made up for it because for the days following my return, he comforted me in ways I wouldn't have been able to survive without him. The house that my grandpa lived in was brought back to life with laughter and joy. Love slowly grew between the two of us, but the truth was still there for the next two years. I was still able to be reaped and instead of my own well being, I had to be vigilant to know that Fable was also in jeopardy of being taken.

That didn't stop our life though. I worked to get acquainted with the district. I helped to sit with a few kids here and there and that seemed to take care of the need to care for someone younger that I was. It was something I had always done and in between, I began to study more schooling in my free time. I wanted to become a teacher but that part of my heart remains secret. So I took school serious and just recently requested to be tested to become a grade school teacher. A future that will be bright for someone whose past is so dark.

As time seemed to be gentle to me and Fable, I had finally aged out of the reapings. I cut my hair shorter than I had ever had it. I began to paint my features in hopes that it would raise my self esteem but really, Fable loved it when I wore makeup. My childish style of clothing became a thing of the past and a more mature wardrobe filled my closet. It's funny how people change in such a short time.

Fable's last reaping was to come and that morning, despite the common practice, I proposed to him. I couldn't wait. I was ready to share my life with someone that had pulled me out of such a dark time. He had been there since day one and waking up to him each and every day just became routine and I thanked Ripred for him every morning, but was he ready?

Fable had to know that I loved him and I had vowed to never hold off on letting someone know of my feelings again. I won't let my past repeat itself. So, this story actually has a happy ending -

I'll be getting married soon!