Layla Anderson
He looks so peaceful in the coffin, almost like he is sleeping. I can't even see the wound that killed him; they've made sure to cover it well. He is wearing the same suit he did his interviews in, the stylist sent it saying it belonged to Finch. It arrived just a few days after the body.
I really wish I had gotten a chance to know my brother; he seemed like a really great guy. He certainly inspired people around here, and although the riots have stopped in the weeks since the games ended, there still is an underlying feeling of revolution. Things have changed, and I don't think we will ever be the same. Still, it hasn't come without a cost.
It's odd to think I can miss someone so much who I'd never met, but I really do miss Finch. He was kind, brave and selfless, and I try to be more like him every day. He fought for what he believed in. He made mistakes like anyone else, but he tried to make up for them, in the end even at the cost of his own life.
Of course, Finch wasn't the only one to lose his life in the arena. There are twenty-two other families mourning someone. One of those families is only a few feet away from me. Today Ashlyn's family has come to pay their respects to Finch, just as my family and I were at Ashlyn's funeral just a few days ago. I've become friends with Ashlyn's sisters, who have seen some tough times themselves. I'd heard that they slept with peacekeepers for money in the past, but after Ashlyn was reaped they gave it up. I'm not sure if it was out of respect for Ashlyn, or they were just too depressed to carry on with it. Maybe it was both.
Either way they have been very supportive to me and my sister, and Robyn and I have done our best to be supportive of them. In fact, the whole district feels more like a family nowadays, there is a sense of community that wasn't here before. We stand as one against the oppression of the Capitol.
The ceremony begins and various people begin to come to the podium to talk about what Finch has meant to them. Finch's friend Rhona is the first person to speak, she talks of the years of friendship they shared, about how amazing of a person he was, and I couldn't agree more with everything she says. A few more of his friends come up, like Darwin, his coworker who tells of how hard of a worker he was.
His mother goes up next, and she cries the entire time. Next is our father who says he had made some serious mistakes, and he doesn't know what he would do if he could go back. The last one to speak is Robyn, who tells that her brother knew that people need hope to survive, and that she thinks Finch had given all of us a bit of hope.
The service ends and I take my place with the other pallbearers. There is me, Rhona, Robyn, Finch's mother, Darwin, and Ashlyn's sister Lyra. The whole thing is a bit surreal. It seems like we are at the grave in a matter of seconds. As they lower him into the ground it starts to rain, and my tears are washed away.
Robyn takes my arm and we just sit there for a moment. I may have lost a brother, but I've also gained a sister. She has gotten me through this ordeal, and I have done my best to be there for her. Trageady has brought us together, and I think it's made us stronger. Together we must honor Finch's memory and never forget what he died for.
I hope you guys all enjoyed the conclusion of my story. I never planned to write an epilogue, but this just sort of felt right. I hate to get off track here at the end, and some already know this, but in the last few chapters I had some requests to do a sequel, and I've decided to do it, but I need some time off, so it won't start for a few months at least. Thanks again for everyone who has supported the story, I couldn't have done it without you!