Amends || Victory OS || Part 3 of 6
Without struggle, there is no progress - Frederick Douglass
When I open the door I'm instantly greeted by the familiar faces of my family. It is Fox first that runs up and hugs me. He's still quite small so he only reaches my waist and clutches onto me tight. His eyes are wet with tears and Jude quickly follows after. Saffron is next to hug me and to my surprise my mother joins in the embrace. Our family hasn't been this affectionate, this caring to one another since father was alive. It was perhaps the first time I'd hugged my family is years and it brought tears to my eyes. I never realised I missed District 11 until Jarel said, I never really said goodbye to my family. I pushed them away after father's death as I didn't with everyone I knew. I run my hands through my mothers hair who sobs quickly.
"I've missed you all so much, so much. I'm glad to be home." I croak and they hug me tighter. Soon though, one by one they let go of me and let me sit down. It'd been a hectic and traumatic few weeks and sitting down in my own house with my family was perhaps the best thing I could have done.
At first there was silence, I think they all appreciated that right now company was all I needed so they didn’t go. Fox wriggles out from underneath mother and comes to sit on my lap and wrapped his little arms around my waist. The poor boy was yet to have his growth spurt so he was still as scrawny as he was when he was ten.
"Was the boy from District 9 your boyfriend?" A look of disgust and curiosity crossed his face. My mother and Saffron gasped at his question and went to pull Fox off of my lap before I shook my head.
“It’s okay...” I said to them, they all looked so worried, like I was going to break into a million pieces. I turn to look at Fox again who looked a little scared as he waited for my answer. “No... he wasn’t. And his name was Jarel but I cared about him alot.” he nodded his head slowly and then opened his mouth to say something else.
“I thought so. You were very sad when he died, I’ve never seen you cry before and it made me sad, wait! No Jasmine don’t cry again!” my eyes were welling up again and it was hard to stop them from running down my face so I let them. He wiped them away with his grubby hands. “I won’t cry anymore I promise”.
“You kissed him and everyone saw. He was your boyfriend. All the older boys called him your boyfriend, they’re all scared of you, you know?”
“They should be scared of me, I’m terrifying remember? why do you know what the older boys say?” I was intrigued now, Fox had always been the type of kid that was scared of everything including people ten times the size of him.
“They always invite me to big oak tree where they eat their lunch and hang out because they like me, duh!” oh bless him... “They always ask me questions about you too but they said that Jarel was a hero” he seemed proud to be in with the big boys and it just made me laugh.
“Well, next time you see those boys tell them I like strawberries and salmon fish” things I could now eat in abundance thanks to the hefty sum of money the Capitol gave me. We all spoke for a while, telling me the news of the District. It seemed as though my fields weren’t so lucky. The white roses had contracted a disease, their pearlescent had turned grey and so naturally Jude burned down the field. Fucking idiot. Saffron walks down to the large patch which is now clear and I think of a fabulous idea.
“During training I spoke to the Gamemaker Nausicaa whilst I was making a trap. She scared the absolute crap out of me but I remember her saying that I could prove that Felicity wasn’t a fluke. You remember Felicity right?” Saffron nodded slowly, she always liked her too.
“It was hard in there, so hard. She was so strong and deserved to come out of it alive. We’ve lost so many people to the games and I think we should give them a space, and dedicate it to Felicity, the Victor that never was.” Saffron nodded again and didn’t say anything.
“We’ll put a bench in the middle, a little path leading up to it and people can plant flowers for the loved ones they have lost. And for Felicity I’ll plant an apple tree, she loved apples and some purple tulips.”
“Why an apple tree and purple tulips?”
“When that apple tree grows it’ll be the biggest and best thing, don’t you think Felicity would have expected nothing less than being the literal centre of attention? And the purple tulips symbolise admiration and friendship. I think they’re perfect for her.” and just like that it was born. District 11’s own little memorial ground named after dear Felicity herself. Her parents plant white roses next to the tulips and soon, flocks of people come to plant reminders of their loved ones. They visit all the time, make prays, some just sit on the bench and cry but there is always someone there to comfort them. I feel like even though I did those bad things before the games, bringing something like this to my people can help me repent. Maybe I can become a better person now.
