This one is another one of those less sad chapters! Hooray for less sad chapters! :) Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games.
Whilst Willow and Rye take their afternoon nap I take pleasure in sitting on the couch with a warm mug of peppermint tea. The aroma it emits is soothing and refreshing.
I hear the front door unlocking and Peeta walks in.
"You're home early," I state the obvious.
"I wanted to give you a gift," he says, as he rummages around in his coat pocket.
"What's the occasion," I ask.
"The occasion is me wanting to give you a gift," smiles Peeta. I give a quiet chuckle.
He retrieves a small brown box from his pocket and opens it.
"Close your eyes," he instructs. I close my eyes. I hear Peeta walk behind me. He lays something on my chest, a charm of some sort, and his fingers fiddle with something behind my neck.
"Open your eyes," he says.
I look down at my chest and see the black pearl dangling off a silver chain.
"The pearl," I gasp.
"I figured that I should get it made into a necklace so it would be more practical," says Peeta.
"Peeta, it's beautiful," I exclaim, as I roll the pearl in between my finger tips.
"I'm glad you like it," he says as he plant a kiss on the crook of my neck.
"I don't just like it, I love it," I smile.
That night, I keep the necklace on and fiddle with the pearl as I lay awake. It feels cold and soothing on my fingertips. I glance at Peeta's sleeping face. I no longer see the wounded boy when he has his eyes closed. I see Peeta; the Peeta that I love. The Peeta who has endured so much; the Peeta that's stronger than most. Sometimes, I am incredibly selfish for thinking that only I have endured the pain that I have endured. Peeta, to, has experienced loss and, worse, torture. But I am luckier than Peeta. I still have my mother, no one from Peeta's family survived the District 12 bombings.
I glance at the iridescent pearl and immediately think back to when Peeta gave it to me. When neither of us knew about the rebellion or the fact that we would both survive. The pearl symbolises two things; The Games and Peeta. As terrible as The Games were, and as terrible as the loss they have caused is, they have had a contribution to who I am today. Stronger or weaker, The Games have changed me.
It's strange how something as tiny as a pearl can hold so much significance. It holds so many memories of loss and love. I let go of the pearl and let it rest against my skin. As I slowly drift off to sleep I think of how the pearl signifies what has made me.
Thanks for reading! Review if you deem it worthy! :)