In the weeks that passed by, the world turned green again. The aroma of spring's debut was heavy in the air. Greasy Sae had opened all of the windows in the house, saying it would clear out the stuffy air but I knew it was really to tempt me outside again.

I hadn't left the house since my run-in with Peeta. I did not fear him. Haymitch told me that he was much better after months of therapy and from what I could tell, pure determination.

"He's not exactly the same. But then again none of us are." Haymitch said.

"I know. It's just…" I paused.

"I don't know if I am ready to face him yet." I said.

I felt guilty and selfish for avoiding him when he had been nothing but good to me since returning home. After he had planted the bushes, he began leaving baskets of fresh bread on my front steps in the morning. Greasy Sae would cut them up and serve them to me for lunch and dinner. Even without facing me, he was trying to heal me.

Some part of me hated him for it. Why couldn't he see that I was a lost cause? I didn't want healing. I wanted death. My other part of me wanted to run to him and thank him. But what would I say after a simple thank you. There was much to be said but I didn't want to relive it.

"You should see him. He deserves at least some sort of word from you." Haymitch said.

I nodded.

"Maybe, later." I said.

A couple days followed and I kept thinking about ways to repay Peeta's kindnesses. I stared out of my bedroom window, seeing his planted primroses in full bloom along the side of the house.

Oh, Prim.

My sweetest sister, the kindest child the world ever knew…taken from me. The only person I ever truly loved…gone.

All I had left of her was a few short memories and fragrant bushes along the side of my house. No one would remember her sweetness like I did. How was I supposed to move on when all I could see was her angelic face haunting me every day?

My quiet remorse lasted for a few minutes before Greasy Sae wondered into my room, carrying my clean sheets and laundry.

"What a lovely day it is." She remarked.

I sat in silence. I would have thought so once.

"You should see it for yourself, Katniss. Go hunting in the woods or something. We need some fresh meat around here."

I stared up at her for a moment. In all the times that she had been over, she had never mentioned hunting or the woods. She knew I wasn't ready enough but now…was I well enough? Was I stable enough to handle such work?

She nodded to me, sensing my internal battle. If she thought I could handle a few hours of hunting then maybe I should go.

"Okay." I whispered.

"Very good." She responded as she made my bed.

I walked out of the room and downstairs to a small coat closet that stood between the back door and the kitchen. I held the handle and turned the knob slowly. The door creaked open to reveal the hunting jacket I had once loved.

I was surprised I did not break down at the sight of it. It's warm, brown leather signified something of old and days gone by but it also held a promise of something new. I grabbed the arms and pulled it off of the hanger and onto me.

A thousand memories rushed through me. Of Gale and I silently walking around the woods, of Prim and her smiling face, of my mother and her depressed world and of Peeta's arms, the only thing I knew that could replace this jacket's warmth.

I thought of my father and the days that he would teach me about hunting, swimming and singing. I wondered if he knew what I had done. If he was watching me and saw all that I had destroyed. I shuddered, he could never be proud of me. I had managed to destroy our family in matter of years. Forever shattering any bond that I would have with the woman I call my mother.

I couldn't think about this now. I had to leave before it became too late for me to go out at all. Shifting the jacket around my frame and tying my shoes upon my feet, I stepped outside to my backyard. It was a little chilly but the sun sitting on my shoulders made up for it.

I rounded the house and headed towards the entrance of Victor's Village. Unconsciously, I slowed my pace as I passed the front of Peeta's house. There was smoke coming from the chimney, telling me that he was home. A rocking chair sat elegantly on his front porch and the grass around his front yard had been trimmed. It looked cozy and happy. I stopped, hoping to catch a glimpse of him inside but the house stood dark. I wondered why all of the lights were off and none of the window blinds were open. Could he be going through the same thing as I? Was he having an episode?

I panicked. Breathing hard. He must be hurt or something. In a fit of insanity, I started to run up to his front porch, passing his gate when I was stopped short at the sight of him coming around the house. Carrying a large stack of wood, he looked up from his place and inhaled.

"Katniss," he said breathlessly. "You surprised me. Is everything alright?" he asked as worry filled his brow.

I stood there like a frightened deer about to be attacked. I couldn't breathe. I wasn't expecting this.

"No, everything is fine." I managed to eek out. The panic that had previously filled me sputtered up in my heart again. I turned from his gaze and ran down the road and towards the woods without looking back.

Once I had run across town, through the meadow and passed the fence, I reached the woods. I ran for a while longer until I came to a large tree. Gasping for air and bending over to rest from running, I thought only of Peeta's perplexed stare.

He was not frightened or had lashed out in anger when he saw me. He looked almost happy to see me, a wisp of a smile drawn across his lips. He wasn't a threat to me anymore. He only wanted to help me.

I crawled between two large roots of a tree and listened to my ragged breath calm as the sound of wind and singing birds that replaced it. I hadn't been out here in some time and I sat in awe as the sunlight drove its rays through the trees. I could hear the light pitter-patter of animals wondering around the forest floor. Leaves shaded the floor and I could hear a small creek babbling along the rocks someplace near by.

The peaceful sounds and sights of the forest were calming to me and I suddenly felt myself being persuaded to close my eyes. I snuggled against the roots of the tree. At the moment, they were more comfortable than my own bed.

I was proud of myself. Even in my skittish state, I had managed to make it out of the house and back into the forest. I had forgotten how soothing this place could be and for a few moments, my nightmares and depression disappeared from my mind.

As relaxation started to fill my body, a word came to my mind.

"Always."

Usually, the phrase would have jolted me into stress, reminding me of past terrors and my broken promises but now the phrase seemed to linger upon the air and lull me as I fell under the forest's soothing spell.

That's when I thought of Peeta's generosity with the bread and I suddenly knew what I could do to repay him.