"Primrose Everdeen" those were the two words that changed everything. As soon as Effie Trinket, And her exaggerated, Capitol self spat those words into the microphone in her maniacally upbeat voice, that was it. There was no way Katniss was going to let Prim; Innocent little Prim, walk into that Arena. We'd seen what it did to people. Prim wouldn't have survived even the training.
It made it so much worse, her volunteering, I knew she would as soon as those ringing words echoed through my mind, but it gave her a purpose, something more to fight for. She won it for Prim. When I was allowed to see her after the Reaping, I didn't really need to think about what to say. I loved Katniss, I still do and I knew she had done what she thought was right. But there was a burning feeling in the pit of my stomach. Betrayal. How could she leave me? Alone, she was all I had. Me, Katniss and the woods. We only ever smiled in the woods.
"You can do this Katniss" I said to her, trying to appear strong. I couldn't show weakness, not now when she needed me most. "It's just a good game, thats all they want". Katniss Everdeen. My best friend, looked scared. I had seen that look in her eyes before, when we were kids standing at the mine, waiting for our fathers to emerge, but they never did. I couldn't help but wonder if Katniss would never emerge from the Games, if this was the last time we would be together...
She asked me to look after her family, her mum and Prim, that was all she had left. And that cat that she despised. I gave her my word through hidden tears, she was already giving up on herself, so soon on. The peacekeepers stood guard outside the doors, as if she were a prisoner, but I suppose she was; a prisoner of the games. An unwilling contender. But then again weren't they all?
When they finally came to take me away, we hadn't said our good-byes, I suppose that was the last time I ever saw her as the girl I knew. Not the girl on fire, not the Mockingjay. Just Katniss. I managed to mutter "I love you" as I was ushered out of the door forcefully, but I doubt she heard me, over the heavy heartbeats and the frantic breaths. But I said it, I said I loved her, and whether she heard me or not, I meant it.