So I decided to just post the next oneshot I wrote last night before I head out on my road trip, because I'm not completely sure if I'll have access to a computer tomorrow.
Just Look at the Stars
Katniss shed a tear onto the picture of Prim with her goat, and she ran her hands over the old pages of the book, put together so many years ago. Katniss missed her sister, and longed for her touch every day. The touch of her children and Peeta was more than enough to warm her heart, but there would always be a space for Prim.
A thumb pressed against her cheek, wiping away the salty substance. Katniss was jolted back to her senses and smiled as her twelve year old daughter hugged her. She was almost as small as Prim and Rue. The girl's embrace made Katniss warm all over and she quickly hugged her daughter back. "I'm sorry, Mommy," the little girl said. Katniss only responded with hugging her tighter. Her daughter was one of the only things left for her to hold onto, and so she embraced her like she was embracing everyone she loved who had died. Her precious daughter had no danger of the Hunger Games, no danger at all, and Katniss was just so grateful.
"You know," her daughter said, breaking from their embrace. "To me, death isn't really that bad of a thing. Especially for everyone in the book." Katniss stared at her daughter, astonished by the statement. "Why?" she asked. Death was something horrible, something everyone here tried their hardest to avoid.
"Well," her daughter started. "People look at death only at its surface. It's death, and nothing else. People have never really looked deep into the subject. But, the way I look at it, it's one of life's biggest blessings, when you really deserve it."
"How?"
"Everyone has the idea that when you die, you're gone. But not really, to me, at least. To me, you aren't a physical person anymore but that doesn't mean you don't live on in everything else." She tucked a strand of her brown hair from her face, exposing Katniss to her beautiful blue eyes. "Everyone who loved you, their spirits are still here. They're in everything that's beautiful. During the day, they're in the morning breeze, or in Daddy's flowers, or the light of the sun that reflects on the lake where we go hunting. And at night, they're stars, all shining together. The brightest stars are the ones who loved you, Mommy. And they're looking down on you, and they're happy. One day, we'll join them. Don't you see? They never really leave. And most importantly, they're also in here." Katniss's daughter placed her hand on her mother's chest; the place that protects her heart.
Katniss gasped. Suddenly, she saw everything in a whole new light. Everything was beautiful, and everything was alive, because they were all here. They were all here with her.
"I love you," Katniss kissed her daughter's forehead. "I love you so much." She tucked her into bed and shut off the light.
"Lullaby?"
"Of course."
Deep in the meadow, under the willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Her daughter sang along, just as Prim did so many years ago. Katniss knew that Prim was there with her. She'd never felt more certain about anything in a long time.
Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes
And when again they open, the sun will rise
Here it's safe, and here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from any harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.
"Goodnight, Mommy."
"Goodnight."
"Just look at the stars, okay? That's what I do."
Katniss got up and exited the room, gently shutting the door behind her. Walked to the room she shared with Peeta, yawning. Her husband was sound asleep, snoring softly. The sound made Katniss smile.
After kissing him lightly on the forehead, Katniss looked outside the bedroom window. The night sky was dotted with stars. Above her, she spotted the brightest stars of the countless ones in the night.
Katniss's eyes glowed with their light, and she felt a feeling of peace wash through her. Looking up at her friends and family that had died so nobly for freedom, Katniss smiled the biggest smile since her son was born.
And, when she looked close enough, the glowing spirits seemed to smile back.
A/N: This is an idea I've had for a while; it's actually my views on death and why I think that sometimes, it can be good. Forgive me if it sounds crazy, but it's just my good old opinions and stuff. I also threw in a teeny bit of Everlark for y'all. *wink*
