It was early in the morning when Gale first started to feel homesick. He was sitting in his newly appointed home- a large, military-styled building with huge rooms and the newest technology. Working for the Capitol's special defenses had its perks, and this was definitely one of them. As Gale ate his breakfast - a heaping bowl of creamy porridge, a mixed cup of fruit, and a cup of coffee - he remembered how, in District 12, eating 3 meals a day was a luxury his family could hardly afford. Most days his mother and himself would skip breakfast or lunch - dinner was saved for the whole family. Living in the Seam had been a cruel existence. But it was full of good memories, too. He remembered the Sunday mornings he and Katniss would share - peaceful meanderings in the woods, hunting while totally in sync. What he wouldn't give for just one more Sunday like that. Gale sighed loudly. He hated these feelings, hated feeling out of control. Thinking of Katniss did that to him.
iShe was my friend. She was Peeta's friend. She loved Peeta. Peeta loved her. bI/b loved her. Did she ever love me? uDoes she still love Peeta?/u/i Gale couldn't help but wonder. iProbably./i
Katniss was the reason he couldn't return to District 12. To his family, to his friends. After Katniss had shot Coin, Gale pleaded with Beetee, begged him for a job. Any job, as long as it took him away. Far, far away from confusing girls and the Capitol. The Capitol and District 12 held too many horrible memories- what was it called? PTSD? Yes, Gale had it. Post traumatic stress disorder is what his doctor had told him. What his doctor didn't say was to leave his past - Gale did that on his own. He became a general of the Special Defenses for the Capitol, and was immediately relocated to District 2, a place that housed hardy, fiery people just like himself. His new life was amazing: fortune, food, importance. He even appeared weekly on the television for reports on the new government's various projects. Life was good here- here he could live in peace, leave the past behind him - mostly.
Some nights, Gale lay dreaming, imagining the terrifying images from the Capitol. All those bodies, blown apart. Blood everywhere, people screaming in the streets, and Gale did nothing. In fact, he helped create this massacre. Gale would watch these images over, and over, until his eyeballs screamed, and he awoke in a sheet of sweat, screaming away.
Gale longed for someone to comfort him. But here in Two, a person like that was hard to find. The closest he had come to getting a girl was, "Mister Hawthorne, here is my number- please use it in an emergency." That had been his boss. There were strict rules about keeping the sexes apart. Any girl he approached would give him the glare - a frosty eyebrow raising stare that gave him shivers. Ah, well.
Gale knew in his heart, deep down, that he would never find a girl just as amazing as Katniss Everdeen. He would probably get married, maybe in a few years. But Katniss would always be his soulmate. And for that reason, Gale could never return to District 12.