I walk over to the bakery. I'm numb inside but I know that Peeta's family will need support. Basil especially, I know that if Peeta dies he will forever blame himself.
The games are such a retched thing I can't even think of proper words to describe how much I hate them. Everyone hates them, except for maybe the people in the Capitol but surely some of them must understand how truly horrible this is. Some of the children that compete are only twelve years old! They haven't even experienced anything. How could someone watch an innocent child die? How could President Snow possibly want to do this? Why can't it all just stop right now? If it did Peeta would come back. I know he'd never love me but at least he would still be in my life.
I reach the bakery the sign on the door says closed. I walk in anyways as soon as I enter I'm greeted by tearstained faces. Now I start crying again. The sobs take over my body and I feel myself caving in. Basil comes over and grabs my hand. We both sit together on a couch and cry. Peeta's father comes over now; he hugs me and then sits between me and Basil. I see now that he has also started to cry again.
"He can do it. He can come back to us." I say.
Nobody says anything; I think they all believe that he's doomed. I don't bother saying anything else nobody will listen to me. Peeta's father puts his hand on my shoulder; I think he's always known about my love for Peeta but he has never said anything which I am entirely grateful for. He understands this feeling. The longing you feel for someone who you know can never be yours. He felt this way about Katniss's mother, Peeta has told me this story many times. I never completely understood until now. I know now that Peeta will never be mine, ever. Even if he does come back, Katniss will haunt him in his dreams. He will never truly come back to me. I now know that it will never measure up to her. He is willing to sacrifice his life for her.
After a few hours of sitting and crying I decide it's enough. I tell the Mellark's that I'm off to the woods and that I will be back in a couple hours to drop off some meat. Now that Katniss is gone I figure that I'll be able to make some money selling game. I slip under the fence and walk deep into the woods. I grab the bag I keep in a big willow tree that nobody ever goes near. I walk around quietly setting up a few simple snares. I'm quiet decent at them. Then I walk over to the willow and relax for awhile. I close my eyes and drift off into a dreamless sleep.
When I wake up I realise that a few hours have past and the sun is now setting. I get up and good look at my snares to see if I managed to catch anything. I find 4 rabbits. It's more than I expected. I set off to gather some dandelions and pokeweed to eat, when I notice that I'm not alone in the woods. I turn around and all I see is a sliver blade pointed at my throat.