Kanan [pk/done]

28
From District Five

Family is super important to me, and I want to protect them. I was always a daddy's boy growing up. He cared for me, and he loved me, and I always wanted to spend time with him. I wanted to follow in his footsteps because he gave a lot to me. When I was younger, he would read bedtime stories to me. He'd tuck me in at night and make sure that I was doing okay. He protected me. He kept me safe. If I had nightmares, he would run to my side and help me. I never had to worry about anything. I had clothes on my back. A roof over my head. We were well off.

But one day it changed. I'm not exactly sure what went down, but there was a lot of fighting, and I watched my dad change. It was almost like he was stressed out a lot. Things weren't going right, and I didn't know what to do. I'm not sure what the bad guys wanted, but they killed my dad. There was a lot of blood, and I never even heard him scream. They left before I could get a good luck at them. My life changed that day. I had to do something to protect my family, and I wanted to do more to protect other families so they wouldn't suffer through the same thing me and my family did.

I was still so young, but I knew that I had to do something. It was that day I decided to become a peacekeeper so I could make a difference. I started working out every day. I started doing better in school so I could have good grades. I started helping myself the best I could. I got odd little jobs so I could help take care of my family. I looked up to the guys in white as they protected the citizens, and I wanted to do that. I wanted to make a difference people would be content with because it was the only way I would ever feel safe. I thought people respect the peacekeepers then maybe they would respect me.

My sister is super important to me, and I want her to know the love I have for her. I want her to know how much I care for her, and that I'm willing to do anything to protect her. Peacekeepers protect people. They find the criminals and bring them to justice. I want to find those who murdered my dad and make them pay for it. I don't know if I want them to suffer death because that would be quick and easy, but I want them off the streets so they don't hurt my sister or anyone else in my family. I took on the roll of being the man of the house. Nobody will ever stand in my way of caring for them.

I remember when I was young, and I would tuck her into bed at night. I would read stories to help ease her mind. It was a very heartwarming feeling to see her fall asleep with a smile on her face. One time she offered to read a story to me, and while I wasn't exactly interested in hearing it, I let her. She enjoyed it a lot, and I think it made a huge difference in her life. Sometimes I have to realize the small things are what keep people going. The small things make people happy. It gives them a reason to live. A chance to move on, and I learned to not take those things for granted anymore. I spent a lot of time with her because I didn't want her growing up without a brother.

Yes, I was working odd jobs, but I did what I had to do. I brought money home. I kept food on the table, and sometimes I even went without. I would make sure my family was taken care of because without them I am nothing. My mom and dad gave me a chance. They taught me how to be a grown man. It's nothing to open the door and hold it as people walk in and out. It's nothing to help an elderly person walk across the street. Not to mention that thank you goes a long way. If everyone was this way, then maybe the world would be a better place. If everyone followed the rules, then nobody would be punished. And then my dad would still be here.

I miss him a lot, but he's the reason I'm heading down the path I'm going on. I'll take my life and do what I want with it to protect the innocent. I've fought. I've worked hard. I've never given up. I'm determined to succeed in everything I do. Giving up would mean failing completely, and I don't want that. I don't want to walk down the road with my head slouched forward. I want to stand tall and proud because I'm happy with what I'm doing in life. I'm heading down a path that I want to walk. I'm moving forward into the career of being peacekeeper. Keeping the peace is important. At least I think it is. But another huge motivation for this is my sister. She deserves so much better, and I'm going to do my best to provide that for her.

As soon as I was able, I left district five and began the adventure of becoming a peacekeeper. The academy was difficult, but I gave it my all. I practiced many nights when everyone else was sleeping because I wanted to learn. I would spend hours upon hours reciting the pledge I swore to keep since I didn't want to forget it. I watched as many of my friends ended up flunking out. I guess it wasn't for everyone. Many that learned quickly was the ones that came from the career districts where they trained every single day for a chance to fight in the hunger games. They were strong while many of us were weak. I watched them power through, but I was strong too.

I had been through a lot in my life, and it was nothing to sleep on the hard cots set up inside the barracks. It was nothing to go to sleep with sweat dripping from my brow, or going hours without something to eat. I had the advantage of being hungry before I stepped foot through those doors. I knew how to take people yelling at me as they molded me into who I was meant to be. Sometimes I lay away at night wishing for the chance to see my sister again. I wanted to hug her, to hold her, to read her just one more bedtime story even though we're both much older now.

At first, I honestly didn't know if I would succeed. I didn't know if I had what it took, but as they broke me down, they stood me back up. They started giving praise for what was done correct, and they started treating me more like a human being. The best day was when I was able to place on the uniform and wear it with pride. All the hard work started paying off, and I was finally ready to protect the innocent from the terrible people living in the world. I graduated without any worries, and I was soon released on my own where I began patrolling the streets. It was then I realized that this wasn't everything it seemed to be.

I see what happens to the innocent, the poor, those that are less fortunate. I watched innocent people get struck down. Yeah, sometimes I see bad people getting captured, and that's what I signed up for, but I never signed up to wipe the blood of the innocent off my face. I sometimes didn't have a lot growing up, and I can sympathize with those who go out of their way to steal something so tiny. Being a peacekeeper shows me first hand how corrupt this place truly is, and now I just want to go home to fully protect my sister.

I hope she's smart enough to know what goes on. I want to tell her the rules, but I have to figure out a way to get stationed back in five. I have to fight for it. I have to prove that I'm willing to wear the uniform in pride, and that I'll always follow the rules. I need to make sure that people understand what breaking a law consists of. They have to understand that because I have so many friends that live in district five. I can't fathom the idea of having to hurt one of them. I thought being a peacekeeper was what I wanted, but now I'm not entirely sure, and I don't know if there's any way to get out of it.