The forest was almost beautiful. A butterfly, with wings so delicate, lovely as lace, landed for just a moment on her finger, before flitting away. The sudden sound of his scream, the echo of the Mockingjays throughout the canopy of the trees, sliced through the silence, and whatever beauty the forest once held like a sword, as she ran.
She should have known, things never change, beauty only lasts a moment, she should have known.
"Shh, shh, shh…it's okay…" she was kneeling down beside him, he was gently resting his head on her lap, his brown hair plastered upon his forehead with sweat, his eyes slowly closing, his voice barely a whisper.
"Katniss, I…I love you." He whispered.
"No, no, no, come on, don't fall asleep, don't…don't go," she cried, rocking him back and forth, knowing that his life was leaving him, "Don't leave me, I love you," she whispered, leaning down, she gently kissed his forehead.
In the distance, the boom of the cannon could be heard, and her heart stopped for a moment at the sound, as his heart stopped forever. She held him close, one last time, before she let him go forever.
Beauty only lasts a moment, she should have known.
