58th Reaping D2

Sylvania Legend

The smell of pancakes wafted up to Sylvania from the kitchen. Why would mother be making pancakes? she wondered. As she rolled over in bed she found a hand-written note sitting on her bedside table. It was from her mother, reminding her that today was the Reaping. She'd forgotten, of course. She forgot a lot lately. The day's event explained why her mother was making pancakes. And this was her last year, too. She was eighteen now. After the Reaping, her parents would want to take her out to celebrate. The celebration would be more for them, of course. Sylvania herself didn't care about the Reaping. The odds of her getting picked were tiny, so why worry about it? Besides, it wasn't as if she remembered much from one day to the next, anyhow. By tomorrow, none of this will have mattered. She'd just go out to town and wander around like she always did, sharing her lunch with the pigeons.

A yellow dress was draped across the back of the wooden chair in Sylvania's room. It was new, made of soft silk. She got a new dress every year, and they could afford it, too, because both of her parents were doctors. That had made it easier, too, to gain access to her precious morphling. At least, it had been easy. Until her parents found out and made sure to keep the medicine cabinet locked. Sylvania traced the long scar that ran down her left arm, the only remnant of a suicide attempt, and the mark of her last day with morphling. But no, that wasn't quite true. A few weeks ago, she'd found her parent's medicine cabinet unlocked. She'd stolen just enough morphling to make her happy for a day. And it had been a glorious day.

Sylvania struggled into her dress, cursing her limp left arm. It hadn't worked for four years now, but still she had trouble getting dressed. It tended to get in the way, and didn't often want to go into her sleeve the way it was supposed to. At least she was right-handed, so there was no trouble there. After dressing and brushing her hair, she flounced downstairs, automatically tugging the metal handle of the medicine cabinet, just to check. It was locked, just as always.

Her parents sat across from her at the breakfast table, their eyes displaying both joy and concern. Joy, because this was her last Reaping, and concern because....Well, Sylvania wasn't sure about that. Hadn't they known someone who'd gotten Reaped, years ago? She tried to remember. It was a girl, she was almost certain. Just a few years older than Sylvania. Her name had started with an A, and reminded Sylvania of a snake, for some reason. Arissa! That was it. But how they'd known that girl, Sylvania couldn't recall.

After eating, her parents led her out the door. Usually, she brought her ID card when she went out, so if she forgot who she was, or where she lived, someone could help her. But with both her parents there, she was sure she didn't need it. Just before they reached the square, Sylvania's father stopped her. He handed her a smooth black ring, undecorated. She recognized it as one he always wore on his smallest finger. Sylvania slipped it onto her thumb, the only finger it would fit on, and smiled up at her father. "Thank you." She thought it was a strange time for such a gift, but that didn't matter. They walked the rest of the way together to the square, where she then separated from her parents. She thought about searching for Barry, a new friend of hers, but decided against it. She probably didn't have the time. Instead, she joined the other girls her age and stood waiting. She tugged awkwardly at the brim of her sunhat, not sure what to do. Finally, the mayor took the stage.

"Sylvania Legend!" he called. She stood, swaying slightly, waiting for the girl to take the stage. No one walked up. Perhaps the girl was just in shock, and hadn't realized she should go. Sylvania thought perhaps she could help. "Sylvania! Come on, we're all waiting for you!" she called cheerfully. Next to her, a girl's mouth dropped open. Um, aren't you Sylvania? We were in school together. I recognize you." Sylvania started to shake her head but then she stopped. Sylvania was her name, wasn't it? She laughed a little to herself, thanked the girl, and started pushing people out of her way to get to the stage.

Up on the stage, she could see a great crowd of people. Why were they all here? To see her? No, that was silly. There had to be something big happening. An awards ceremony? Had she won something, perhaps? A boy took the stage next to her, and said something about accepting. Accepting the thing he'd won? And Sylvania, she'd won something, too. Everyone was staring, and she realized with a start that they were waiting for her to accept, as well. "Oh! I accept!" She smiled out to all of them, waiting for her prize.