Gale and Katniss Reunion: After MockingJay
I'm shaking, I can't breath, and I feel that same feeling creeping up my spine the day that I met him in the woods. That tall handsome boy from the Seam. It feels like a hundred years since I've seen him last. What will I say? What will I do? And how will I explain to him that…I miss him. I know he was informed of our wedding, I sent an invite. But he didn't come. It's been 5 years since he left, since Prim died, and since the part of me that I reserved for him died as well. Peeta wanted to come, but he knew I had to do this alone. I want to be alone right now, like I used to be. But that grimy drunk sits next to me now, a half drank bottle in his hand. He's passed out and for that I'm thankful. Oh, Haymitch, why did you want to see Gale too? Saying Gale's name in my head brings the anxiety. I look down out the window of the hover craft. I see the place that used to be the Capitol's stronghold, District 2. I lean back against the seat and close my eyes. This is it. The moment that I see the man I…loved. The man I still love. It took me five years to get the courage to come see him. I blamed him for what happened to Prim, but it wasn't his fault, and I know that now. He doesn't know I'm coming, I don't know what his reaction will be. But all I want is to be in his arms just one more time, and then…I don't know.
The hover craft is starting to land and I want to yell at the pilot for just five more minutes in the sky, but I can't. I shake Haymitch awake. "Wake up! We're here! Haymitch! Wake up!" I yell at him. That doesn't work so I end up slapping him awake. He thrusts himself out of his seat and slashes the air with an invisible knife. They didn't let him bored the plane with one. "Oh, it's you. Why must I wake up to such an unpleasant face," he said grouchily. "Why'd you even come Haymitch? You don't care about Gale," I said angrily. "True, but I wasn't going to miss this reunion," he said. He's actually just here as my escort since I'm still "unstable" according to Greasy Sea. Once the plane lands I see Paylor the new President outside. She rushes in to hug me. "Hi, Paylor." "Oh, Katniss I haven't seen you in five years!" she said. "Five years too long," I say. "How'd you know I was coming?" I asked. "I'm the President. I know everything," she said. I laugh and we get into the government care assigned to us. Paylor waves goodbye as the car rolls down the road. I'm starting to think that shooting Coin is getting better and better. We have been driving for about an hour now. I see the houses, and faces of the residents of District 2. Some of the older ones still seem a little rebellious about all the changes that have been going on. But when I see the babies and toddlers running around, I feel this lightness inside my heart. I hear a whisper that comes from a girl no longer with me. She is saying, "I didn't die for nothing." "I know Prim, I know," I say to her. Then she's gone. I look out Haymitch's window and see the nut. It's slopes are still lined with the avalanche paths that Gale had made. Apparently they don't use it now any more. It's just a burial place for hundreds of workers that never made it out…
I'm starting to doze off when the car comes to a stop. I look up to see a medium sized house with finely trimmed grass and flower bushes surrounding it. There's a little pond on the side, and something catches my eye. The grassy stems in it, it's Katniss roots. My mouth opens slightly. "He hasn't forgotten," I say quietly to myself. Then my eyes shift to the left, and there it is sprouting beautiful stems of pink, white, and red. Primrose. My hand comes over my mouth, and my eyes shut, and tears run down my face. "What's wrong sweet heart?" asked Haymitch in his gravely voice. I shake my head. I then wipe my eyes with my sleeve and pull myself together. The driver comes around and opens the car door for me and I step out onto the stone pathway up to Gale's new house. The sun is setting and I can see the warm glow coming from the windows. "I'll wait here until you want me," said Haymitch. I nod then take my first shaky step toward his house. Each time I get more and more anxious. I stop at the primrose flowers and touch one of the petals. Then I see it. There's a rock in the middle of the garden. There's something engraved in it. I look at it closely and read the writing on it. In memory of Primrose Everdeen. My heart stopped and I feel my legs give way. I'm falling to the ground when I feel someone catch me. My vision is blurry, and the last thing I'm conscious of is being taken into the light of the house encircled by those arms that used to hold me close.