Katniss could finally see why.
She sipped at her sixth drink, feeling the hot rush flood her body. Yes, she could see why.
For the first time in a long time she wasn't thinking about Rue, Gale, Peeta…the Games. All that mattered was that there was enough left in the bottle for another drink after this one.
Katniss could see why Haymitch was the way he was.
Despite the horror of the day she felt almost blissful. The drink had clouded her mind. She could deal with everything later. The morning seemed a long way away.
Haymitch was watching her closely. Despite being a good three drinks ahead of her he had yet to be at the same level of her. Katniss looked up at him.
"What?" She snapped.
Haymitch shook his head.
"Nothin'."
Katniss took another sip. She suddenly felt an overwhelming affection for her mentor.
"Haymitch?"
"Mmm?"
"I don't want to see you die."
Haymitch snorted.
Katniss unsteadily rose from her chair and sat next to Haymitch, head on his shoulder.
"I think you should go steady on the sauce, Sweetheart." He glanced at her and saw two tears fall down her cheeks. He reached over tentatively and placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
"It'll be okay." He felt stupid saying something so simple and untrue. Yet in the state Katniss was in, it didn't seem to matter what he said.
"Another drink I think" he said, softly releasing himself from Katniss.
Katniss had a vague feeling of knowing that she would be embarrassed tomorrow morning at her shameful show of emotion. Not something she did on a regular basis.
But tomorrow was so far away.