we name every star [Romana/Moana]

ROMANA IZAR

Everyone was watching the fight of our District's tributes against one another on the over-sized television in the District Square when it happened. There was an explosion, and all hell broke loose. There was yelling, screaming, and even the occasional cheer here and there. At least one person here was enjoying themselves. As for the rest of us- we were terrified. I was supposed to keep an eye on Yani, but when the chaos broke out, I lost track of her. What kind of terrible babysitter was I?

This was a full-blown riot now, and I'd lost track of the one important thing to me in that moment- Yani. I frantically looked around for her, calling out her name, but with how loud it was and how many people were crazily and frantically moving around in the crowd, I doubted she could actually hear me.

"Yani?" I tried again. There was no sign of her.

"Yani?!" I was more frantic this time, tears starting to form in my eyes. What had I done, losing track of her like that? I should have been holding onto her hand the whole time. I should've been guiding her away from this all right now, but instead, I was searching for her. What would Vasco say if he knew I'd lost track of Yani?

My body was starting to shake with the panic that was taking me over. I didn't know what to do, other than to keep calling out her name and searching for her. Tears were starting to fall from my eyes and down my face, now. I couldn't stop them anymore. I was a nervous wreck, and I just wanted to find Yani, pull her into my arms and assure her that everything was going to be okay. I wanted her in my arms, safe and sound again.

I hadn't even caught what the outcome of our tributes' fight in the Games was before this all happened, but it didn't matter. That wasn't what was important to me right then. I needed to find Yani. She was the only important thing right now. Where was she? Was she okay?

"Yani?!" I called out again, more frantic than ever. "Yani, where are you dear?!"

I hadn't felt anxiety like this in... I don't know how long. I don't know if I'd ever felt this panicked, actually. It was a terrible feeling, and not only was I terrified of what might happen to Yani if I didn't find her, but I was also scared of how Vasco would react when he found out that it was my fault. He was a nice man- one of the kindest people I'd ever come to know- but that wouldn't change the fact that if something happened to Yani, it was my fault, and he had every right to take out his anger on me.

I just wanted to go back to before all of this happened. I wanted to go back and make sure that Yani was safe instead of losing track of her. I wish I could've led her away from the crowd before that explosion happened. The thing is, however, that I can't turn back time. She was nowhere to be found, and that was all my fault. I tried calling out to her again, even more desperate this time.

"Yani?! It's Romana, where are you?!"

I could only imagine how I'd feel if it were my sister Maria who'd gone missing on someone else's watch. I'd be distraught if something happened to her. I couldn't let Vasco go through that sort of thing with Yani.

I needed to find her.

596 words ■ Lyn𝛿is ■ Romana/Moana
lyrics: "Sound of Us" by Diamante