“How could I leave Prim, who is the only person in the world I’m certain I love?”

“Her name's Prim. She's just twelve. And I love her more than anything.”

“I vote yes....for Prim.”

“ll I can think about, every day, every waking minute since they drew Prim's name at the reaping, is how afraid I am.”

“To the everlasting credit of the people of District 12, not one person claps. Not even the ones holding betting slips, the ones who are usually beyond caring. Possibly because they know me from the Hob, or knew my father, or have encountered Prim, who no one could help loving. So instead of acknowledging applause, I stand there unmoving while they take part in the boldest form of dissent they can manage. Silence. Which says we do not agree. We do not condone. All of this is wrong.”

“But I don't know what to him about the aftermath of killing a person. About how they never leave you.”

“I protect Prim in every way I can, but I'm powerless against the reaping.”