chant bellami . d10m . fin

I'll never let them tell me how to live my life, or how it should end. Or at least, that's what I've always believed. Now, though, there's not much choice. The Capitol can pick you, or your siblings, or your cousins, or your friends— anyone between the ages of twelve and eighteen— to fight to the death in what is now known as the Hunger Games. It's not just a one-time event, either. They do it every single year. So, every single year that you're of one of those 'special' ages? You could die at the hand of another not-so-lucky soul who was chosen to fight just like you were.

I've always feared the Games since their creation, but was hoping that now I would be safe. Everyone I've known has made it through without being picked so far. We've all survived the "reapings", as they're called. I just have to keep up that streak. I have to keep surviving, but I can only do that be either being lucky enough not to be chosen, or being smart enough to survive if I do get picked.

I've always been a smart guy. I'm a good student and a pretty solid musician. I'm respectful of those who deserve to be respected, but I'll fight for what I know is right when something's not. I'm not scared of most things, but I think, like many people, I do fear death. I always think it's strange when people aren't afraid to die. We don't know what comes next. At least, not for certain. Nothing is truly guaranteed, no matter your beliefs.

I like to think that I'll be guided to an afterlife by a protective deity when I eventually and inevitably die someday, but I know that's not guaranteed. If anything, it's just a way of trying to make myself more comfortable with the idea of death, since I'm far from ready for it.

If they do call my name in this last year of me being eligible for the reaping, I just hope that when they do, they don't see the fear in my eyes. Instead, I want to see regret in theirs when they realize what they've done to yet another person who doesn't want to die.