nothing is real and that's a fact [mala/siber, jb]
Oct 1, 2023 16:18:15 GMT -5
Post by kap on Oct 1, 2023 16:18:15 GMT -5
The last letter I wrote to Andesite was stashed under my bed in a shoebox, and now I'd just finished saying goodbye to his father and brother.
Uncle Pyrite and my cousin Marcasite came to visit me in the Justice Building before anyone else. My own brother and mother hadn't even shown up yet. It was a little strange, but I suppose not completely surprising. My immediate family might have already had the closure they needed when we said goodbye this morning, even though they didn't really know about my plan to volunteer.
Or perhaps they were mad at me. Maybe they just didn't care. Whatever the reason, it was irrelevant now. I still had time for visitors, so it was possible that they showed up, but for some reason, I severely doubted that it was going to happen.
As I sat waiting to see if anyone else had made the decision to come say goodbyes, whether that be friend, foe or family, I turned the letter that Uncle Pyrite had given me over and over again in my hands. He told me it was a letter he'd wanted to give to Andy when he was reaped back during the Seventy-Second Games, but Andy hadn't even known who he was at that point— so he didn't get the chance to give it to him, or to even say goodbye.
Apparently, a man named Gideon Flynn had threatened him if he tried to make contact with Andy, so the letter never left Uncle Pyrite's possession that day.
Instead, I now held it in my hands.
Unfolding it again, as I had done when he first handed it to me less than five minutes ago, I read it over once more as I waited for anyone else to arrive.
Dear Andy, the handwriting was quite hastily done, clearly written by my uncle between the time of the reaping and when he planned to see Andy off in the Justice Building but didn't.
I'm writing this to tell you goodbye. You never got to know me, but I love you, I care about you, and I'm rooting for you. I believe you can make it home alive. I might have never gotten to see your strength, but I know it's there.
Love,
Pyrite Obsidian
"Dad"
He wasn't my father, but it meant quite a bit to me to have. I'd be taking it into the arena with me.
I folded the letter back up hastily as I heard the door to the room I was in open, and placed it back in the right side pocket of my slacks. My attention turned to see who was coming in.
It was one of my cousins, Malachite. I stood up as I saw her in the doorway of the room, honestly quite surprised to see her.
"Mala," I said with a welcoming nod as she entered the room. "I'll admit, I'm surprised you decided to come. My mom and Alex didn't show. Just Pyrite and Marc so far..." I trailed off for a second.
"Anyway, come in. I'm glad you're here." I gave her a gentle smile and gestured for her to come in.
