District 12 is my home. The forest I roamed as a boy calls my name. The mines I worked in briefly haunt my thoughts whenever I take the elevators in 2 below the surface. But I force all thoughts of my old district from my mind. Besides there aren't districts anymore, at least not technically. The republic abolished the borders as soon as Paylor was able to organize the government into a workable and stable structure. For some reason Plutarch felt the need to contact me, to give me updates on my old district. I don't know how he got my phone number or why I even answer the damn thing. But I cling to his words when he says they're rebuilding the ash bombed streets. I construct the image in my mind of what 12 must look like now. Cobbled streets, no fence, houses built of wood and stone. Real houses, not shacks. The businesses returning, and the hob has no need to return because those products are no longer outlawed. The mines have been closed, so I must imagine the streets free of the dust. Plutarch tells me a few hundred have returned to 12. Including Katniss.

After our final conversation I knew whatever bond we had was shattered. Irreparable.

I had killed Prim. Not intentionally, but it was my mind that created the bomb that burned her alive. I feel the familiar pain in my chest when I think of Prim and how she is gone from this world because of me. I think of my own siblings. Katniss and I had a solemn pact to protect each other's families. How could she ever forgive me for that broken promise. I couldn't even forgive myself, five years later.

I think of the first time we met. I recognized her vaguely from school. I associated one word with her: quiet. And I remembered her from the justice building where we collected our medals of honor after our fathers were killed in the mines.

It took a long time for us to trust each other. But one day it just happened, we were no longer reluctant allies but partners. Sharing the spoils, talking to one another, making sure both our families were fed.

When Prims name got called I knew she would not win. Not in a million years, the girl who would save drowning worms after the rainfall. I knew Katniss would be destroyed. But when Katniss volunteered I thought there's a chance she might come back. There's a chance she might return to me. When Peeta was called I thought nothing of it, just the name of a merchant kid. I tore Prim away from Katniss, held her to my side as she cried. She felt like my sister too, and I knew I'd protect her the same as Posy.

When Peeta claimed to love Katniss during the interviews in front of the entire nation, my blood boiled. This baker who had never spoken to her to my knowledge pretended to have some claim to her? I loved Katniss. I'd realized it a while ago, months before the games. I was usually so smooth with girls, but I was never able to tell Katniss how I felt. I could read her mind, but she only read what she wanted to from mine.

When she kissed Peeta I hated her. And I hated myself because I knew she was pretending in order to survive. And I hated Peeta because he wasn't pretending.

When she came back I knew things wouldn't be the same. We wouldn't be able to pick up where we left off. But I had severely underestimated how damaged she would be. Traumatized. Paranoid. Trapped by her romance.

I wanted to run away with her and our families. We could make it, We'd be together. But then I realized she did love Peeta. She loved me like a hunting partner, a best friend. But she loved Peeta. She denied it in her head for a long time, but anyone could see the truth.

In 13 we started to grow apart and I couldn't blame Peeta for that since he was in the capital, being tortured. Once so in sync, now we were drifting and arguing and always at odds. I couldn't forgive her for choosing Peeta, even though she hadn't yet realized she had made the decision.

After Prim died it was over. We couldn't even claim to be friends. My hunting partner, the girl I loved, the girl who understood me better than anyone, was a shell of her former self and in love with another boy.

I would never be hers again, and she would never be mine. We would never hunt together because we no longer knew how to trust. We could no longer speak because it was too painful. I fled to district 2 and she to 12.

Plutarch told me she married Peeta. I wasn't surprised. Wasn't even hurt. I saw it coming a long time ago. I hadn't been celibate since we parted ways either. But I couldn't claim to have moved on. Not in the slightest.

I wanted so badly to see her again, to apologize, and to go back to the way things were before. Just being hunters together. But there's an intimacy to the partnership of two hunters and Katniss would never feel right about it now that she was married.

She'd never feel right about it because of Prim.

After ten years I met a woman who didn't remind me of Katniss at all. She was loud, maybe even obnoxious. Teasing and joking, drawing a laugh out of everyone. She knew how to get me to laugh even when I didn't want to. She was from 3, a real whiz with technology. I was fascinated when she showed me her programming. She was impressed when I showed her my hunting skills. I was able to love her without comparing her to what I'd lost with Katniss. She was able to love despite my mind always being trapped in the what ifs.

After many years I stopped wondering what if Prim didn't die. What if Katniss chose me. What if we had run away together.

I was married, with a baby on the way. But I had to do one thing to move on completely. I needed to make peace with my district.

With my wife's blessing I took the soonest train from 2 to 12, mid autumn. 15 years after the final words I spoke to Katniss.

I brought my bow, one that her father had crafted and she had gifted to me.

I knocked on her door. Peeta answered. He sure was surprised to see me. But he welcomed me inside. Katniss was out shopping she'd be back soon. Katniss. Shopping. I almost laughed.

Peeta introduced me to their kids. I told him I had a baby on the way. He admitted he was relieved. At first sight he thought I was here to steal Katniss away.

It was so weird talking to Peeta without seeing him as competition. Katniss returned soon and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me. In explanation I held up my bow.

"Want to go hunting?"

We walked the old trails we had visited every day after school. I remember them even after 15 years. We went to our meeting place, the rock alcove.

"I remember her every day," I speak of prim.

"Me too," Katniss says.

"How's your mother?" I ask. Katniss smiles.

"She's a doctor in 4 now. We talk on the phone often. She doesn't come up here but we visit her in 4 with the kids every summer. Annie's son looks more like Finnick every day. How about your family?"

"They're in 2 with me. My siblings are thinking of going to new districts seeing what's out there."

We're silent for a long time.

"Let's hunt." She breaks the silence. We take down a rabbit at the same time, two arrows hitting it in the shoulder and rear. We laugh and clean the kill.

"Greasy Saes been saying shes craving a nice rabbit stew."

"She's still around?" I joke. The woman must be pushing 90 by now.

Our conversation seems stiff, we're so unfamiliar with each other now. Katniss is no longer shaky and scared of her shadow as she was after the games. Her grey seam eyes are more thoughtful now, her step has a carefulness to it. Wary of the world, but not scared of it. She's happy for her life with Peeta and her children. She aches for her sister and everyone who died in the war.

"Things will never be the same I know. It wouldn't feel right if they were. But I don't want to be a stranger."

"Then don't be."

We don't kiss or hug or even touch but our smiles find each other. I know that we'll call occasionally. Ask about each other's days. Visit once in awhile and maybe hunt. We'll never be the hunting partners who knew the innermost workings of each other's minds but we'll be friends.

On our way back to town I see Haymitch chasing a goose around his yard.

"Should I ask?" I laugh. Katniss shakes her head at her old mentor.

"He's trying to cut back on drinking. He'll never be able to quit but he doesn't want to die before he's sixty. He raises geese to occupy his mind. Good thing they're sturdy animals because he has no idea what he's doing."

"Who's that?" I question the woman sitting on the doorstep of his house, chirping at Haymitch to put some shoes on for heavens sake.

"Effie trinket."

I blanch.

"They are together?!" I exclaim.

"I can't believe it either. She's changed so much from the capital eccentrist she was. She's still on about manners and wears too many accessories. But she is the only one who can understand Haymitch and he her. They keep each other on their toes."

"Just when I thought I'd seen it all."

I stay for dinner and then part ways. I call my wife, tell her we're invited for Christmas.

Nothing will be the same as it was when we were teens fighting for survival in the woods. But that's ok.