A/N: Hey guys! Long-time no see! I'm so sorry for the lack of updates on my other stories, it's been a long year and busy doesn't begin to explain my absence from the writing scene. So here I bring a brand new story that I have been thinking about for the last few weeks now and I finally decide I want to get it out into words. The inspiration for this one is based off a good show (Canadian too!) called Being Erica. If you've seen it then you will see similarities to the show and for once I am basing this in my home country. The setting is in Toronto, Ontario as the show is. It helps me keep the setting in line too since I've been there many, many times (and honestly, I don't live far from it.) Other places will be mentioned too like, Montreal, Ottawa, and even some vacation spots in the US. I hope you guys enjoy this story. It won't follow the exact same story line, but it will be close. If you like it, let me know in the comments. I foresee myself posting the next chapter very soon.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters or the series, THG nor do I own the story of Being Erica. I am merely borrowing them for this fanfiction.

Being Katniss

Chapter 1- Dr. Haymitch.

I stand on the window ledge, looking at the ground two floors below me. I heave some more as I try to catch my breath, filling my lungs with the crisp winter air.

"One… two…" I jump before I hit three and land hard on the frozen, snow covered ground. My knees give out with the pressure of the jump and I fall to them, hands out to catch myself. The snow crunches beneath my body and I struggle to get up and back onto my feet. Once up, my body starts to move of its own accord and I'm running down the long winding driveway towards the street. I don't register the cold air or my wet shoes and pajamas as I run down the street with no particular place in mind. I know I just need to get out of here.

I suppose you're wondering who I am and why I'm running right now. I guess I should start from the beginning, which luckily started yesterday morning. My name is Katniss. I'm thirty-two years old and recently fired from another job that, honestly, I'm over qualified for. That house I'm running away from? That's my parents' home. I ended up there yesterday morning after just being fired from another sales job. This time it was a telemarketing job that involved me listening to people bitch at me about their credit card bill. I had only been there a week and that was more than enough time for me to snap at my last customer. It ended with me telling them where to go and how to get there… and then my boss told me where to go and how to get there when he heard. I had packed up and left, not bothering to go to my apartment which already had an eviction notice hanging on the door, telling me rent was past due and I had thirty days to vacate if I didn't pay my outstanding balance immediately. My mom had answered the door when I got there and merely ushered me inside, not bothering to ask what happened now.

That is how my morning had begun and things only had gotten worst from there. My mom had guessed what had happened and offered to let me move back in until I was back on my feet. I couldn't fathom doing that… I had gotten out once, I didn't want to come back. Instead I decided to stay the night, second mistake of the day on my part. That evening my sister, Prim, had come over for dinner with her boyfriend Cato; to say I disliked him was putting it lightly. He was a dick and treated Prim like she was dirt beneath his feet; I didn't know what she saw in him. He knew I hated his guts and he made sure to give me nasty looks whenever he thought no one was looking. I didn't bother pointing this out to anyone; they wouldn't have believed me anyways. My dad didn't mind his company and my mother thought he was perfect with Prim, they had been high school sweethearts after all. He worked for a big law firm while Prim took after mom by becoming a doctor. A surgeon in fact. She mostly worked in the ER, taking cases as they came. It was a proud day for all of us when she graduated, top in her class, and had been offered a job immediately after. Cato wasn't exactly thrilled for her that day, raining on her parade when he told her that she was being selfish and not paying enough attention to him. Prim's light was dimmed that night and I watched her leave our parents' house almost in tears. I had wanted to hurt him then, no one hurts my little sister, we already had enough hurt in our lives.

To say he was an asshole didn't cover it and yet here I was, having another meal with them and dealing with the same line of bullshit I always dealt with when he was around. They were discussing the finalization for the house they were buying and what renovations they planned on doing once the house was theirs. Mom and dad were thrilled for them, it was the next step for their relationship and they hoped it would lead to marriage soon… man they must have known. When Cato got up from his chair and knelt in front of Prim, we watched as we sat at the dinner table as he pulled out a little black velvet box and held it up to her. He gave a big speech about how much he loved her and how she was his soul mate, that he was nothing without her before opening the box to reveal a heart cut diamond ring. Too cliché and unoriginal in my opinion, but I wasn't the one receiving it so I had no say. I held my breath as we all waited for her answer. My stomach dropped when I saw the smile spread across her face and she began to shake her head enthusiastically.

"Yes." She had said it, solidifying the promise of forever with this horrible person. I felt sick as the room began to spin. Could this day get any worse? Everyone was congratulating the newly engaged couple as I sat there, stunned.

"Katniss? Katniss, are you ok?" I looked up to see Prim looking at me, blue eyes gleaming with happy tears as she spoke to me. What was I supposed to say?

"I-I-I'm happy for you. I'm just feeling a bit tired, sorry. I'm going to head to bed early tonight." I could see the hurt in Prim's eyes as I left the table to head to my old room, escape this whole day in general. This had to be a nightmare. It was the only explanation.

I had woken up this morning, thinking the day before had truly been a nightmare, except it wasn't. Everything was very real. From losing my tenth job in six years, being evicted from my current apartment, to Prim getting engaged to that jackass, Cato. When did my life become a big mess? When did everything go wrong? Honestly, what did I do that was so bad to deserve this? Ok, so I made some mistakes but who doesn't? As I look around my old room my eyes land on photos from my high school days. Old friends, Prim, my parents… Gale. Oh god. My vision blurs as I stare at an old photo of Gale, Prim and I together as kids. Eyes grey as coal dust stare back at my own smoky eyes. Gale… if only we had woken up. I feel my air ways constricting. The room slowly suffocating me the longer I look at my photos. I have to get out of here. I frantically grab an old jacket out of my closet and search to see if I can find an old pair of shoes to wear. I find an old pair of neon green, nike slip-ons and put them on quickly. How do I get out here without anyone noticing? I look around and my eyes land on the window.

That's how I ended up here, running in the crisp morning air without a destination. I felt myself slow as I neared an overpass bridge until I stopped completely so I could look over the edge. I could do it, right now. Just climb over and just end this sad excuse of a life. If I did this then I could see Gale again. My family would learn to live without me, just as we did without Gale. My body reacts before my brain can assess what's going on. I'm climbing over the railing and looking down the highway, where cars speed by. If I were to let go now it would all be done. Just let go Katniss…

"Hey Sweetheart, you sure you want to do that?" I freeze, hands grip the railing a bit tighter as I look over my shoulder. A tall man with medium length blond hair covered by a black beanie, scruff on his face, and deep cerulean eyes is staring at me. His clothes look baggy and worn down on him and I wonder for a second if he's homeless. I turn back around and hold my resolve.

"Look buddy, it's none of your business so just keep walking." I take a deep breath and wait to hear his feet shuffle away. I fidget as I don't hear anything. I take a peek back over my shoulder to see him still there. "What?" I'm feeling agitated now and my resolve is quickly diminishing.

"Katniss, what if I told you I can help you?" I'm startled and a bit scared now. How does he know my name?

"Who are you?"

"The name's Haymitch. I'm a doctor and I can help you. I can guarantee that I can fix all your problems." I'm faltering, what is he talking about?

"What do you mean you can fix all my problems? What kind of doctor are you? Who are you?" The words are rushing out of my mouth all at once. I'm confused and scared by his words.

"Katniss, I can guarantee that I can help you fix all your problems as long as you promise to commit to this service and follow it until the end." He looks around us and then looks back at me. "How about we go to my office where it's a bit warmer. Come on sweetheart." He is moving towards me and I panic, my grip slips and I'm falling from the railing, heading right for the oncoming traffic below. I close my eyes and realize this is it for me. So much for help. Gale is the last thought I have when my world goes black.