Pride | [Althea's 85th Election Speech]

Althea squeezed Fabian's hand, cleared her throat, and then mounted the stairs to the podium. Her speech last election had been clinical. Althea always handled things with a carefully gloved hand, trying hard not to taint it with emotions. The last time she let her heart get the best of her she ended up miserable.

Taking a breath, she took the podium.

"Citizens of District Four," she began. "I am proud to call myself your Mayor and I am proud of the work that has been done in these last five years. I hope to continue working for you and your families.

She glanced at Fabian.

She wondered when that changed. When her hatred at the world and the cards she been dealt had dissolved. When she stopped despising herself for not being a good enough career, a good enough mother, a good enough wife.

She looked down at the carefully planned speech in front of her typed out in careful font. With a flick of her wrist she turned it over, looking up at the people of her district instead.

"But I also know that these years have not been kind to all of you. That there will always be circumstances out of our control that we wish we could change."

She swallowed hard, fighting the words that wanted to leave her mouth before finally submitting to them.

"I have not always been happy," the words burned her throat. "I wanted to earn glory in the arena and instead I have resigned myself to a less than glamorous job as a mother and then as a mayor. It was much easier to cut things down than help them grow. I never thought of myself as a nurturing type until I got to be your mayor."

"I have gotten the chance to see the best of our district. The hardest workers who keep every gear moving. I have enjoyed this time, getting to know you and your families' needs. These twelve districts of Panem are not one size fits all. Each section needs leadership and policies that help them to strive."

"District Four is full of strong, proud people who too long have been underestimated. My first term we built up that strength and recognized it. I promise in my second term, we will use it."