Disclaimer: The Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins, not me. Contains spoilers!
Gale
My hands shake as I read the newspaper.
Katniss' little boy stares up at me from the picture on the cover. He's turned five, now – or so the paper says. His eyes are so full of emotion. But I can also see him in the image. Him. Peeta. The man she married.
I guess I'm still having a little trouble getting over the fact that she chose him, not me. But, then again, as I'd said, she would pick the one she could survive without – and she could survive without the former friend who'd come up with a snare that eventually snuffed out her sister's life.
She's also pictured there…Katniss is. Time has barely touched her. Her hair, now sprinkled with a few lighter strands, falls in silky waves around her face. There are only a few wrinkles under her eyes. White teeth under full lips glint at me from the image. Her eyes dance with laughter, but I can also see just a hint of sadness. It has been there ever since the Games. Her first Games.
Peeta is also in the image. He has his arm thrown across her shoulders, and their children are situated in front of them.
Their children…
It still stings, even after more than fifteen years. Just not as badly, though.
She's sent me a few letters over the years. I think Peeta has made her do it as a healing process, though, because it isn't really her. I can read between the lines.
She misses me, but I think she misses the "me" before the Games. I can almost hear the false tone she'd use if she were speaking.
"Come back, Gale…
I wish you could see my children. They're so grown up now…"
I snort, and throw the paper away. It lands in the grass a few feet from me.
I pull my knees up and wrap my arms around them, surveying the lush valley I'm sitting in. A forest grows wildly across the field, and a steady wind blows across the clearing.
A mockingjay flies across the field and lands in a dead tree a few feet away from me. They still remind me of Katniss.
I'm married, now. I have no idea if Katniss even knows – or cares.
It's still really hard to let her go, though.
It's a good thing my wife's patient.
I snort again. "Right," I mutter under my breath. "Like Johanna could ever be patient."
People comment that we're an odd couple; they say, "I never saw that coming" and smile at us.
I hope Johanna can forgive me for thinking about Katniss so much. I guess I'm just bitter; bitter at the fact that Katniss let me go so easily. Bitter for realizing she doesn't need me as much as I once thought she did.
Johanna's words come to my mind:
"Look, handsome, do you really think that I care? I love you. You love me. It doesn't matter very much that you think of her all the time. You both broke each other's hearts. She's just learned to move on, and you're still stuck pining after her. Now, maybe it's not so strong as it was ten years ago, but you're still missing her, as much as you don't want to believe it. You need to move on, Gale. Let go of your bitterness. You're starting to turn out as brainless as Katniss was."
I shake my head softly, smiling.
Johanna has a way of bringing out the best in me, even though she's only a few years older. It's odd, though…really odd.
I feel bad for not being able to give Johanna my full attention. She's gotten used to me thinking about Katniss some.
I can't believe how much we've all changed.
Katniss has basically blotted me out of her life…well, except for the few letters. But those don't really count.
And me?
I'm still finding myself thinking about her sometimes.
"Gale?"
I turn my head to look over my shoulder, and I see my wife standing at the edge of the field, arms crossed and layered hair flowing in the wind. She's wearing a green blouse and brown skirt with a white apron over them.
I stand and brush myself off before heading back towards her.
She holds up something, and I wince. "Did you see this?"
The newspaper.
I nod, looking her in the eyes.
She drops the paper and hugs me. "I love you, stupid."
I chuckle and wrap my arms around her small waist, burying my nose in the crook of her neck. "You smell nice," I murmur, closing my eyes.
She laughs. "You're changing the subject again." She pulls away and stares into my eyes. "Are you okay?"
I nod slowly. "I'm all right. I've been better, I guess."
She smiles and kisses me briefly. "Let's go home. Dinner should be ready by now."
I give her my special half-smile and say, "Just a minute. I need-"
She gives me a brief kiss before saying, "I understand." Then, she walks down the sidewalk back onto District 7's main street.
I turn and study the landscape again.
"I hope you enjoy your life, Katniss," I murmur. "I sure do miss you, but I'm happy, too." I start to head back to town, but the flutter of wings stops me.
The mockingjay lands on the sidewalk close to me and cocks its head.
I stare at it for a few minutes.
Then, the mockingjay sings a familiar four-note piece and the hair goes up on the back of my neck.
It's her song.
Can I ever get away?
A/n: Thanks for reading! I'm sorry if they seem out of character at all, but it's been 15+ years. Surely they could have changed? Anyway, I have no idea why I wrote this... I'm going to submit it for a contest, but we'll see what happens. :D Hahaha! You love me, right? First story in a while! :D I mean, other than the book I'm working on, but you won't find THAT on here. :) Heeheehee. ^_^ Anyway, if you enjoyed, please review! If you didn't, please review, then, too! :D I welcome everything except flaming, and those will be used to bake some cookies. :D Haha! Thanks again! Sorry for any typos!