A year after it's over and I can still see her face clearly as she left me forever because of one stupid mistake. I don't think I would change anything I did that day though; we are all free of the old Capital. That's what we set out to do. I can't help who had to die to get this freedom.

The girl next to me shifts, her tiny hand gripping to my arm as if that was all she had that was holding her in this world; this pulls me from my thoughts. I can sense another one of her fits coming by the constant turning of her head, the way her foot travels up her leg, pushing down violently. A thin layer of sweat covers her body, plastering her red/brown hair to her pale face. That's when the blood chilling scream splits through the night air.

Her eyes fly open, the slate grey clouded with fear and panic; her arms pushing me away, crying out for them not to hurt her. Her nails dig into my skin but never have they drawn blood. Remain stoic I remind myself before engaging.

"Shh…shh…on one is here to hurt you," I whisper wrapping both arms around her a sad attempt at stopping the thrashing about. "I'm here. No one can hurt you while I'm here…remember?"

"Gale?" she questions but her words are still too panicked and breathing still coming in gasps like panting. She's got to calm down or she'll send herself into another state of unconsciousness. One more time and the doctors won't let her out again.

"Calm down," I whisper trying to keep my tone even not showing I'm worried for her. "Look at me. I'm not here to hurt you."

Taking this terrified creature's face in my hands I force her grey eyes to meet mine. The distress and fear vanish as she buries her head at the point where my neck meets the rest of my body. Her tears run down my bare skin and she is shaking whither it is cause by fear or the cold I don't know. I continue to hold her close allowing the heat from my body to transfer to hers which feels like a block of ice against my chest.

A year…that is how long I've know this girl. I met her about a week after the war ended as I saw her about the throw herself from the top of our building. I remember seeing her in District 13 though. She was and still is opinionated, defiant and one of the kindest most trusting people I know.

We spend most nights in each others arms because we know what it's like to see first hand how destructive our race really can be. Is her state worse than Katniss's…I'm not sure. All I know is that Katniss is strong…this timid girl that now lies shaking in my arms is the farthest thing from strong. Her once toned body has turned into nothing more than skin hanging from bone, sparkling eyes full of life are now blank and sunken in. She's a broken spirit. I've made it my own personal mission to bring her back.

After about an hour those soft lips meet my cheek, whispering nonsense words but at least I know she's back from whatever world she disappears into during these fits. I've got nightmares but nothing like this. She saw children burning to death while I was in the air, I don't blame her at all.

"Gale," she whispers. "Gale don't go."

"I'm here. You sleep, I'll keep you safe."

"Sleep brings it back, the images of the flesh melting off the bone, the cries of those who couldn't be helped. I don't want to see that."

I go ridged wondering if she'll blame me for the children's death. Obviously I've told her about the bombs being mine but as of now she's not held me responsible even though it was all me.

"Gale…it's not your fault."

I brush a stray stand of hair from her face tucking it behind her ear. She pale, so thin, so weak, so vulnerable yet she came to me. Big bad Gale who killed the little children; I don't know why she's not gotten mad at me about it yet. She's not Katniss I remind myself before gently kissing her forehead.

"Don't leave me, Soldier Hawthorne," she murmurs and I can tell she's worn herself out but not to a point where it knocked her out.

"Never," I answer. "Why did you come to my room that night?"

"You where screaming. I spent too many nights alone in the hospital scared out of my mind that the things I saw when I closed my eyes would come back. I wanted someone to tell me it wasn't there. I thought you might've wanted that too."

"Real or not real?" I question recalling the game we used to play with Peeta to get him to remember the truth.

"Not completely real. I did it for selfish reasons too; I didn't want to be alone anymore."

A single tear falls from the corner of her eye and I catch it on my finger, "I'm glad you came."

"So am I," she responds a tiny smile playing over her lips as more tears spill down her face.

I pull her close to me, allowing her to hide in my chest; we rock back and forth for the rest of the night. "I'll always be here dear Flyfern."