Uriah drops his tray next to me. It is loaded with beef stew and chocolate cake. I stare at the cake pile. โThere was cake?โ I say, looking at my own plate, which is more sensibly stocked than Uriahโs. โYeah, someone just brought it out. Found a couple boxes of the mix in the back and baked it,โ he says. โYou can have a few bites of mine.โ โA few bites? So youโre planning on eating that mountain of cake by yourself?โ โYes.โ He looks confused. โWhy?โ โNever mind.
Veronica RothHe smiles in my memory. A curled lip. Straight teeth. Light in his eyes. Laughing, teasing, more alive in memory than I m in reality. It was him or me. I chose me. But I feel dead too.
Veronica RothThe shouts of triumph become infectious, and I lift my voice to join in, running toward my teammates. Christina holds the flag up high, and everyone clusters around her, grabbing her arm to lift the flag even higher. I can't reach her, so I stand off to the side, grinning. A hand touches my shoulder. "Well done," Four says quietly.
Veronica Roth