"Katniss…. Katniss wake up" a soft whisper wakes me up. I turn around and I can make out the faint outline of Peeta's form kneeling beside my bed. I just pull the covers over my head, trying to block out the world, him with it. He just stays there, waiting for me, as always.
It's been like this for months now. Eventually he does succeed in getting me out of the bed, but its slow progress. Mornings are the most difficult time of the day. After my horrible nightmares and the screaming, the only respite I have is the few hours of sleep in early morning. I hate waking up, it means that I have to face another day and even with Peeta here, I have a hard time holding myself together.
Months have passed, but time doesn't hold much meaning anymore. But it's true that time heals. I am putting myself back together, more for his sake than mine, but the pain doesn't get much better, neither does the nightmares.
I finally put a stop to my brooding and tell Peeta, "I'm coming "shortly. He gets up and leaves. Sluggishly I clean myself and make my way downstairs. He's bought breakfast because I obviously can't cook and Sae thinks that with him around, she doesn't need to look after me. She's right. After all we've been through; he's still here, different, but here.
"So, going hunting today?" he asks, his blue eyes assessing me. He knows me so well. "Yes" I reply. Still not over my few syllable answers. I sit down and we start breakfast.
"Um Katniss, I um…" he starts and I look at him questioningly. He draws in a long breath "Maybe we could visit Annie sometime soon. You know with the baby and all. I think this would be a god time." That's when I start crying, since just about anything sets me off nowadays. He moves forward and cautiously wraps his arms around me and I fall into them, because right now I need him badly. The thought of Finnick and Annie's little child, brings up memories which unhinge me completely.
"It's okay Katniss I'm here, its fine." He soothes me and without realizing it I just mouth the word "Always" questioningly. The shock on his face must've been on mine too, because I didn't know why I said that. But then he smiles and whispers "Always "in my ears and a warm feeling engulfs my heart, and I'm glad I asked. Something changes inside me and the grief becomes more manageable suddenly, my heart and I am sure his too, lightens a little.