The Mockingjay Returns

Part 7: An Episode

It's time: time to catch my train, time to face Peeta, time to go to the Capitol.

The past two weeks have been hard. After my conversation with Haymitch I had gone straight over to Peeta's house to resolve our last encounter.

As soon as he opened the door to his house, I had pulled him into a friendly embrace. Peeta was surprised, no doubt, but I thought it would break the ice.

Pulling away, though, I realised that something wasn't right. Peeta was smiling at me, making small conversation about his day: "I saw someone I know today," and "I baked a loaf of bread," etc. But he did not invite me inside, nor did he mention the imminent trip.

As I thought about this, something shining behind him caught my eye. I craned my neck slightly, realising what it was. One of the paintings, evidently Peeta's own art, hanging on the wall in the entrance had its glass frame smashed. There was a cobweb-shaped fracture sprawling over what looked to me like a picture of the meadow.

There was a reason he wasn't letting me in. Paylor's letter had set him off...

"Katniss," I turned my eyes back to his suddenly. "Are you all right?"

"You know you can talk to me Peeta. I'm going through shit as well. Don't keep it bottled up; it'll only make it worse."

He didn't answer. Eyes averted to the floor, a single tear rolled down his pale cheek. I pulled him closer to me once more, and in silence we held one another, on the front steps of the house, until the sun began to set.

After this encounter, things became easier. I would visit his house every day or two, still giving him space to reflect.

We would talk. Not about the past, but about now. We had heard from Johanna, who would be meeting us in the Capitol, claiming she should have been interim president. We laughed at this. As the week before our trip approached, we began to dine together, Haymitch too.

"Let's hope with the destruction of the Capitol comes the destruction of their fashion industry," joked Haymitch, during one meal.

"Ugh, I don't want to be faced with a pair of those god-awful butterfly eyelash extensions again," I agreed.

Peeta smiled. "I bet Effie can't wait to see you again, Haymitch." He ignored that. Peeta and I exchanged glances.

And it went on like that, until the night before our departure. As I got into bed, I heard a crash coming from next-door. Peeta. Immediately, my reaction was to run straight over there and help him, but I stopped myself. He has to do this on his own, I thought. The risk is too great.

I lay back down in bed, my whole body tense. The smashes and yells continued; it was like torture, hearing it. I pulled the covers over my head in a futile attempt to block out the sounds, and at long last fell into a dreamless sleep.

Now, I board the train with Haymitch and Peeta behind me. Stepping inside, I decide not to bring up last night's episode, and think about the ordeal ahead of us.