A few weeks later…

I stand in the meadow that Prim and I grew up in, but unfortunately Prim and I won't be playing hide and seek today. The sky is grey and dreary, so cloudy that not a single ray of sunshine can make it through. It's a foggy day and the extensive rain has disrupted the ashes and turned the ground to saddening mush. I was released from the infirmary a while ago so I could attend Prim's funeral. Being in the hospital was agonizing, but not because of the severe burns or skin grafts. Everything there reminded me of Prim, and that was something that I couldn't handle. I was always on the brink of a mental break-down there. Although what was left of Prim's body was scattered throughout the capitol street unidentifiably, and empty casket still stands open for loved-ones to drop little things in; Things that show what she meant to them. The crowd has begun to thin out. I already knew that people wouldn't want to stay long – They miss Prim, and it's just another reminder that she's gone. Gone forever. It requires all the willpower I can muster up to stay, the pain of losing her is unbearable and here it feels inescapable. I watch as Katniss, the last one here leaves sobbing uncontrollably. I almost wish I didn't know Prim had met her untimely fate; I'd much rather live out my days thinking that she just went away for a little while. Somewhere peaceful, and safe. The place she described in a song she used to sing. The meadow. Not this meadow turned make-shift graveyard, where the grass is charred away and bodies lie beneath our feet. I walk to the empty-coffin slowly. It stares up at me, almost mockingly. I let you down. I—I didn't save you. I'm so sorry Prim, I couldn't save you. I failed you. It should have been me! I should be the one splattered through the capitol, not you! I think to myself like a mad man. Pull it together, Rory. I weakly pull a few small items from my coat pocket; a worn leather book, a small tarnished silver ring and a rose. A primrose. These items would mean nothing to a stranger passing by, but they're more than meets the eye. A book full of the love letters I've written to Prim but never had the courage to give her, a primrose flower, and the ring that I was going to use to propose to her one day. I remember finding it in the ashes of twelve after the fire-bombing, I immediately knew who it would belong to one-day. Hot tears stream down my red cheeks and I crumple to the ground sobbing and mumbling "Prim..." Over and over again. I control my sobs temporarily, and place the book and the ring delicately in the casket and lay the flower in front of the gravestone. Prim's gravestone is the only one in the meadow, everyone chipped in to honor her death. It reads; R.I.P Primrose Everdeen, Died helping the injured during the second rebellion. It brings tears to my eyes. I drop to my knees sobbing onto the tombstone. I love you so much Prim, more than anything. If I could go back in time and change anything I wanted, I'd be the one dead, not you. It should be me in your place. You were so, bright, happy, colorful and full of life. You were the best thing that's ever happened to me, and my own brother killed you. The tears get stronger. I'll love you forever, Prim. I'm so, so sorry that I let you down. I love you, Prim. Goodbye. I pull myself to my feet unwillingly and leave the meadow with stiff robotic movements. I venture into the charred grey forest and somehow manage to find one tree, standing defiant and green. I slowly climb to a low branch and fashion a noose out of a length of rope. It should be me… It should be me.. Are you, are you coming to the tree, where I told you to run, so we'd both be free. Strange things did happen here, no stranger it would be

If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree. I'm so sorry, Prim. I pull the noose over my head. Are you, are you

Coming to the tree

Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me

Strange things did happen here

No stranger would it be

If we met up at midnight at the hanging tree.

See you soon, Prim.