safety measures [nyte]
Sept 27, 2015 13:41:33 GMT -5
Post by cameron on Sept 27, 2015 13:41:33 GMT -5
H E A T H E R
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o o oStanding in front of that crowd, her back upright and her feet evenly spaced, Heather had never been so absolutely terrified. It took all of her strength to not break down right there in front of the entirety of her district. But, as her mother had trained her, she kept her eyes open, her lips slightly pursed, and her chin just high enough. It wasn't until she had been ushered off by her escort that she even had processed what was going on. And that's when it hit her.
She was going to die before her birthday.
Nothing had ever hit her that hard before. Her heart beat stopped for a second and all her breath left her body. This was supposed to be her year. Seventeen was supposed to be the best year of her life, and now she wouldn't even reach it. Her escort looked at her questioningly, as she had stopped moving forward, and she regained composure with her mother's words floating through her head.
The next events soared past her. She paid no attention to what anyone was saying, and when her mother entered the room to say her goodbyes, Heather just smiled, kissed her mother's cheek, and left.
Soon, Heather was heralded onto a train, something she had never experienced before. The takeoff was rough as the machine lurched forward into motion. She held on to the sides of her seat, not sure what safety measures should be followed. The escort left her and the male tribute, who she hadn't really paid any attention to yet, in the caboose. Heather watched as the scenery started to race past, and the robust trees of her home disappeared behind her. Her eyes rested on the window, not really looking anywhere. Her thoughts danced around her head but she couldn't grab onto any of them. They were too elusive, too quick, always just out of her grasp. And Heather sat like that for a long time.
After a particularly bumpy patch of the ride, Heather lost her focus on the window and her preoccupation with not thinking was dashed. She looked across the train at the boy. He was cute. And his hair looked soft. Even though he didn't have a last name, which was pretty freaking weird. She contemplated speaking to him, but ultimately decided against it, despite his soft-appearing hair. Instead she trained her eyes back on the window.
Aw, hell, she couldn't handle it. She had to speak to him. It was nagging at her now. And she needed an excuse to one day touch his hair. Being silent wouldn't let her accomplish that goal. And it was a very serious goal. Boys' hair was her 3rd True Love in Life. So she looked up, staring him dead in the face, and said the first thing that came to mind.
"My birthday is in twenty days."
o o o