A/N: All characters belong to the brilliant Suzanne Collins! I hope you all enjoy this story and please review! Also, if you have a suggestion, please let me know :)

I used to be the face of the Mockingjay. The Girl on Fire. What would everyone say if they knew the girl who sparked a revolution was left a pile of ashes in its wake?

CHAPTER ONE

I sit motionless on the couch in my living room. Greasy Sae, who has taken care of me since my return must have gotten food into me somehow and ushered me to the bathroom but I remember nothing except the endless macabre, agonizing images that plagued my mind in sleep and in waking. Which is which I couldn't tell you. It all runs together. I vaguely remember Haymitch sitting in a chair beside me telling me about something I can't recall. To put it plainly, I shut down. Prim, my baby sister who I had fought so hard to protect, is gone. She died in front of me and I can't bring her back. My mother is off in another district, no doubt avoiding any contact with me. I don't blame her though because if I had the choice, I wouldn't want to be around me either. Gale, who designed the bomb that killed hundreds of innocent children, including my sister, is likewise in another district. Peeta is still receiving treatment from Dr. Aurelius but I doubt I'll ever see him again. I can see no reason for him to return to District 12. His family is dead, his home and bakery devastated; he has nothing to come back to.

Haymitch visits with me. And by visits I mean he plops down in a chair beside me, drink in hand, and babbles on, trying to draw a response out of me. It's no use though. I am aware he is next to me and trying to hold a conversation, but he might as well be talking to a statue because his words fly over my head.

"The boy is back by the way. He arrived on the train early this morning."

I couldn't believe what Haymitch just said. Why on earth would Peeta return to District 12? Has he recovered from the effects of the tracker jacker venom?

By the time my mind finishes running circles I look up to find Haymitch gone. Before I can drift back off into my state of nonexistence, I hear a loud metal clang coming from outside my door. Normally I would just ignore it, but for some reason I feel compelled to go investigate the source of the noise. I open the door and see him. It's Peeta. He is using a shovel to plant primrose bushes in my yard. His cargo pants and t-shirt are covered in dirt and sweat but his blond hair shimmers in the sunlight and his blue eyes sparkle like they always used to when he was focusing on a project. So intent on his work, Peeta doesn't notice me standing in the doorway. Not knowing what else to do, I hug myself before managing a quiet and strangled

"Hello."

Peeta looks up. He smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes.

"I wanted to plant some primrose bushes to remind you of… her. I hope that's alright?"

Unable to speak, I nod slightly. I turn around to go back inside but before I can Peeta interrupts with,

"You should talk to Dr. Aurelius. He says not to keep ignoring his calls."

I close the door without acknowledging him. I can't fully process what just happened. Why would Peeta be doing anything for me. I am truly touched by his gesture but I can't wrap my mind around why he would want to do anything nice to me, especially after what happened with the venom. Even if he hadn't been hijacked by the Capitol, I have done nothing to deserve his kindness. Still standing in the hallway, I notice my reflection in a mirror. I turn to see myself clearly and I don't recognize the person staring back at me. Red, bloodshot eyes,

tangled hair, skin cracking from the neglected burns covering a frail figure. I don't even look human. Startled by my appearance, I decide to take a shower.

Soundlessly I make my way to the master bathroom and turn on the warm water feels incredible on my skin and for a few minutes I just stand and enjoy the sensation. I proceed to scrub myself clean and shampoo and condition my hair until it is tangle free and smells of blooming jasmine. Satisfied that I am sufficiently clean, I step out of the shower . Before I wrap myself in a towel I study myself in the mirror once more. My skin looks like a patchwork quilt, I am far too thin and my hair that once nearly reached my waist barely covers the top of my breasts. I quickly turn away and put on a robe. Opening a drawer I find a hair brush and begin to pull it through my hair. While putting it away I notice a bottle of aloe vera lotion. Knowing that will help heal my burned skin, I apply a generous amount to every inch charred by the fire. Feeling a little less discomfort I head into my bedroom and put on a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and a cardigan. Not knowing what else to do, I choose to go downstairs and make myself some tea. To my surprise I hear someone in my kitchen. I am even more surprised when I see that someone is Peeta.