The day after Katniss & Peeta were reaped was hard for everyone. Hardly anyone would be leaving the house today. "Daddy!" I called softly, not wanting to wake my mother, who had another headache.
He appeared at the top of the stairs, looking like he hadn't slept at all.
"Yes, darling?"
"I'm going for a walk...I'll be back before dinner."
He hesitated for a moment, so I added, with tears in my eyes, "I just need a minute alond, daddy.."
He smiled at me sadly, and nodded knowingly.
"Okay...just...promise me you won't go too far."
"I promise, daddy."
I walked past all of the perfectly manicured lawns of town, past the Mellark bakery...I wonder how his Mr. Mellark is today...I should stop in and see him...but...I can't stand to see the look on his face...
I walk past the sweet shop...all the way to the meadow.
I sat down on the same rock that I always did when I came here..alone or with Katniss...my thinking rock.
Only then did I allow the tears to fall. My whole body shook with silent sobs. My best-and only-friend...had just been sent to die.
Had the capitol planned this? No...no, that couldn't be. Poor, innocent little Prim had been left behind with an incompetent mother...how would they survive? Surely, they wouldn't starve, with the help of everyone in town...no one could bear to see Prim suffer. "Hey...Madge? Is that you? Hell, are you crying?"
I jumped & turned around, wiping the tears from my eyes.
Gale Hawthorne? What did he care?
He hated me...he had proved that much yesterday with the comment about my dress...
"G-Gale?"
"She knows my name, ladies & gentleman!" his sarcasm is thick & nasty
"Of course I do..." I can't contain the blush, and I look down
"Really...Madge...are you okay?" his voice is much softer now
"I'm...f-ine..."
I lie...but my voice cracks & tears threaten to spill over again.
"Yeah...me, too."
He lies, too...he comes closer, and I can see that his eyes are rimmed with red from crying. He surprises me when he sits next to me. I slowly turn away from him, before he begins...
"This is all just a big fucking a joke..." he trails off, burying his face in his hands. Then, he straightens back up, sniffeling, noticing my tears. He looks into my blue eyes with his intense, steely gray ones. My heart skips a beat.
"Madge...Katniss is gonna make it, you know.."
I nod. I don't trust my voice. He pulls me into a hug. At first, I'm shocked. But, after a few seconds, I just bury my face into his chest, and put my arms around his neck. For a while...we just sit there. Neither of us saying anything...just comforting each other for our lost friend, silently.