I woke up with a big headache.
I was in my bed and I was still in clothes that I was in yesterday.
I remember falling asleep on the couch, my older daughter Emily brought me here. I didn't happen for the first time, I never get enough sleep after coming from the work late. I always end up sleeping in different places that aren't bed. Then I wake up in my bed.
Today I couldn't sleep too much, I had to get up.
Because today is the reaping.
Normally on that days I'm worried about my daughter but today I have to be worried about myself.
This will be the 125th Hunger Games which are the 5th Quarter Quel. This time only adults can get raped. Adults from 19 to 65, I'm 48. My daughter is 18 so she can't get picked.
I got up of the bed, I splashed my face with water and looked in the mirror.
I saw my pale exhausted face with ginger messy hair. I was supposed to shave yesterday but I forgot as always.

When I went downstairs to the kitchen, I saw my daughter Emily and my son Lace.
Emily was making breakfast and Lace was sitting on a chair impatiently waiting for food.
"Hi, dad!" Lace yelled happily.
He's just 6 so he isn't worried about the games that much. He always makes sure we aren't too worried. Unfortunately this little boy understands the idea of death after my wife and their mother died two years ago.
"You're finally awake, I was just about to go and wake you up." Emily said.
She looks just like her mum; Stella. She remains me of her every day. Emily has dark skin and dark hair just like Stella. She also has brown eyes like her. Lace also has dark skin like Stella but he has blue eyes and ginger hair like me.
"The breakfast is ready." She put the eggs on three plates and gave to us.
"You don't get eggs." She said to our little black dog named Cotton who definitely wanted to try eggs too.
We named him Cotton after finding him in cotton field. We have a lot of those fields here in District 8.
I started eating my eggs.
"Go to take a shower after you finish eating." Emily said.
"I will." I answered.
I could see that Emily was nervous about the reaping. She was scared that she'll have to lose me.
"Emily?" I started.
"Yes?"
"When we come back I'll take a day off and we will spend this day together, okay?" I said.
I wanted to give her something because she has to stress so much and take care of Lance.
"Okay." She smiled.
We both knew that we weren't sure if I come back.
"Will we get ice cream?" Lace asked excited.
"Yes, we will." I answered.

Life after Stella died is really painful and complicated.
I still can't get used to the fact that love of my life isn't here anymore. Nothing will fill up this hole in my heart where she used to be.
Her death was so sudden.
It was accident when there was a fire in her parents' house. She was there on a visit and then it happened.
Stella and them died.
After that I stopped talking to my friends and my twin sister; Patricia. I had to start to work on a construction site. It's a really exhausting work and I always come back late. Because I come back late and tried, Emily takes care of Lance and all the things I don't have time for.

...

I went upstairs and got ready for the reaping.
When we were almost there, we got surrounded by many other people from District 8. Some people I used to know but I lost touch after Stella's death. I noticed my sister in the crowd who calming down a light haired girl who was crying.

Stand in different crowds and the cremation began.
Tesla who was doing the reaping in District 8, was in colourful clothes. She was saying some things before picking the tributes. It was hard to listen to her because of her annoying voice.
"Ladies first," she said and walked up to the first bowl.
I didn't have a lot of women that I was worried about. I didn't want my sister get picked.

"Belle Howard!" She said.

I didn't know who that was.
Then I noticed that it was that girl that Patricia was calming down before raping.
"I volunteer as a tribute!" Patricia yelled from the crowd when Belle was on her way to the stage.
"What's your name?" Tesla asked.
"Patricia Noble."

What hell have you done?
You're gonna kill yourself!

I wanted to scream but I stayed silent in shock.

Patricia got on the scene and Tesla walked up to another bowl.
"Now for the men."
She slowly took out one slip.
Tesla took a deep breath and read it out loud.

"Dominic Noble!"

She said my name.
This has to be mistake, this can't happening.

The peacekeepers took me on the stage.
I was terrified, I was waiting for someone to volunteer for me but everyone stayed silent.
"Great!" Tesla said and I stand next to Patricia on the stage.
"You're siblings, aren't you?" Tesla asked.
"Yes." We both answered at the same time.

"Great! Patricia and Dominic Noble are going to represent District 8 on 125th Hunger Games and the 5th Quarter Quel!"

This can't be happening.
I'm not ready for this.
I used to train for the games when I was younger but that was when I was just a kid and I could get raped every year.

I'm not ready for this.