Gary paced the small clearing, the letter crumpled in his hand, though he didn’t care about keeping it pristine. When he spotted them—his only real friend—leaning against the trunk of a tree, he squared his shoulders and strode over, a confident grin tugging at his lips.

“I did it,” he said, his voice low but steady, the kind of tone that didn’t invite arguments. “I signed up for the Long Walk… and they picked me. I’m going, and I’m going to win. No question about it.”

His piercing blue eyes locked on theirs, sharp but not unkind. For a moment, the bravado softened just enough to let them see the excitement beneath—the thrill of being chosen for something that finally made him feel like he belonged.