A/N: For the Starvation forum's monthly challenge, with the prompt: "Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real." This is told from Annie's POV, during the Quarter Quell. Enjoy&review ^^
I don't know what counts as real anymore. I wish I did. I wish. I've asked a lot of different people. Most of them couldn't answer. A few said something that's real is something they know definitely exists. But I didn't ask for a synonym. No. How do you know? Finnick told me that anything you can detect with the senses or feel with the heart is real. Finnick's the only one who believes I'm not crazy.
But he's right. Most people don't see it, but I understand. This is reality. The images I see in my head, they're real. The flowers, the meadow, Finnick by my side, they're all real! They told me I was wrong, that I was crazy, but I'm not. I'm not. How can I be, when I can feel the soft grass tickle my bare feet, smell the sweet roses and hear him whisper gently in my ear? But they say I'm wrong, that he's not really here, but he is. He is.
They're lying to me. They're lying to me right now but I won't listen. They tell me he's in there. I put my hands over my ears and sing. I sing our song. And I won't stop. They can't make me. He can't be in there. There doesn't exist. It was a nightmare. It was a lie. Why, Finnick? Why are they lying?
They tell me I'm a victor, and Finnick is too. But they're wrong. They're wrong. I can't be a victor. Those people didn't die. Finnick didn't kill anyone! Finnick is sweet. He is gentle. He would never hurt anyone. They're crazy; all of them. Only Finnick and I know the truth.
It was only a nightmare.
Just a bad dream.
And everybody knows dreams aren't real.