Unconditionally

Unconditional, unconditionally

I will love you unconditionally

There is no fear now

Let go and just be free

I will love you unconditionally.

CHAPTER 1

My name is Katniss Everdeen. I am 18 years old (nearly 19) and I am homeless. I live in the woods and I have very little money from working at the old drunks bar. My family is gone, I am alone and I have nobody left that loves me. I know I need love but i'm scared, I can't trust anyone and I'm surviving just fine by myself.

The winter cold snow bites at my skin as I shiver and try to cover myself with the ratty old blanket. The sun is nearly fully risen and I know that I'll be able to go into town to get some food. I haven't eaten in nearly four days and my stomach is curling and rumbling painfully. I have saved up just enough money so that I can buy my food with a little money to spare.

Not being able to stand the cold any longer I fold up the thin blanket and place it in the old backpack. I slowly climb down the tree I have made my home. And then struggle to walk through the snow along the unmade path I have taken so many times when I leave the woods. After about 20 minutes I finally make it to the edge where the trees meet the road. I walk down the road towards town.

I always go to town early so that not many people see me. I can't have anyone know that i'm homeless. I don't want to have to deal with the shame or pity.

I walk into the grocery store and walk down to where I know bread is. Most people buy their bread from the bakery because apparently it's the best bread you will ever get. I know, I can smell the sweet scenes of baking bread and treats every time I walk past the bakery. But I can't afford to go in there. It's too expensive and also I don't want the bakers wife to see me. I can still remember the day 9 years ago when she broke my arm. I never want to see her again.

I pick out a bag which contains four bread rolls. They are the cheapest brand there and probably taste like cardboard but I don't care. Food is food. I walk up to the register and don't look the cashier in the eye as I hand him the bag. I try to hide my dirty hands and am suddenly realizing that I should have washed my clothes and bathed in the lake before coming out. My clothes are covered in dirty stains and my hair probably looks like a birds nest.

I hand the cashier the money and run out of there as fast as I can. Nobody can see me. That is my only thought as I run down the road to the only place where I feel safe. The woods are my safe haven. I sprint through the trees, constantly tripping and slipping on the snow. Once I reach my tree I sit down in the snow at the bottom of it; not even caring that my pants will get wet. I open the bag and pull out one roll.

I remember to eat it slowly as last time I got sick for a week because I ate the food too fast and my stomach wasn't used to that much food. I rip off small chunks of the bread. and eat it as quick as I will allow. Once finished I have to force myself not to eat the other three rolls, I need them to last me. I put the remaining rolls in my bag and then head down to the lake.

I'm lucky it hasn't frozen over yet but I know that I will need to find a new source of water soon since the lake will eventually be nothing but ice.

I dip my hand in the water and immediatly pull it back, hissing as the icy water stings my hand. Slowly I unbraid my hair and then bend over the edge of the lake, dipping just my hair into the water as I try my best to scrub it clean. Once finished I tie it in a messy bun on the top of my head so that it doesn't drip everywhere.

Glancing around to make sure nobody is around, I pull my clothes off and wash them in the water. The icy particles digging into my hands. I lay my clothes on a nearby rock and then close my eyes as I prepare for the worst. I know I shouldn't go in the lake because I will most deffinitly get sick from the cold. But I have to stay clean, I can't stand the stares that people give me.

I try to make it as quick as I can as I wade into the water. Tears spring into my eyes it's that cold but I just keep going as I quickly rub my hands over my arms and legs to remove as much dirt as I can.

As soon as i'm done I race out of the water and pull the thin blanket out of my bag, wrapping it tightly around me as I shiver uncontrollably. My teeth chatter as I pull the blanket tightly around me. I groan at the though of having to wait for my clothes to dry.

I sit shivering on a rock while my clothes dry on the rocks for a hour or two, just waiting for my clothes. Eventually they are dry enough for me to wear as I pull on the old pair of pants and t-shirt with the jumper that has no warmth left in it.

Slowly I walk back to my tree, as I climb up the branches and settle myself down. My stomach grumbling as it wasn't satisfied with one bread roll. And I almost cry when it starts to rain, because I know for sure now im going to get sick. I can't afford to get sick as I have no money. That's how my mother died.

I just need to stay brave and strong. I am a strong girl and I know that I can try and fight off whatever sickness the cold trys to give me. I hope at least. I remember that time last year when I first started living in the woods. It was the middle of winter. My body wasn't used to such harsh conditions and I got deathly sick. So sick I was afraid I would die. But somehow my body started to cope and I pulled through. I just hope this winter I don't get that sick again.