I don't know if fate picked our paths. I guess I'll never know. Through all the battles we've won, and lost—we still hold on to the idea of hope in the end. I've heard that the only thing stronger than fear, is hope, but I don't believe that. I believe we fear what hope may bring. I believe the two are entranced in each other's ideas. We love the idea of hope, but it scares us to death that it may never bring us peace. We cannot dwell on that fear, though. We have to continue to strive for that happiness.
I dream of the day Katniss will be mine forever. Tonight she has accepted the idea—a lovely idea that gives me hope.
She gracefully makes her way over to me, grabbing my shirt by its collar, and pulls me in. Intoxicated by her mere presence, my heart jumps out of my chest, and then reclaims its original position. She pulls away, and looks down at her hand. The pearl rests in the antique gold band, fitting perfectly on her finger.
She clenches my hand, and looks back up at me.
"It's perfect." She murmurs in my ear.
"I'm glad you approve." I smile down at her. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, and reaches up to give me a kiss on my cheek.
She lay in my arms the entire night. Neither of us woke with a start in the night from nightmares. Instead, we slept quietly through the whole night.
The next morning, I'm surprised to wake to her still lying on my chest.
Avoiding the inevitability of startling her, I gently trail my hand along her back. She groans, and rolls over.
"Aren't you supposed to be hunting this morning?" I ask her.
She stretches her arms, and then looks over at me. "I was actually thinking of doing something different today. Something we could do together?" She inquires.
"I'm listening…" I laugh, sitting up in bed.
"Well you know that old cabin I used to go to? I've been thinking lately…" She pauses, sitting up as well. "It wasn't completely destroyed, but it could use a lot of work. I was thinking maybe you and I could turn it into a little project?" She starts toward the mirror, and pulls her hair back.
"I'm thinking I like this idea a lot." I answer. That's the truth. I love this idea. The thought of turning a remnant of a bad memory into a new beginning was striking to me.
"We can start on the outside, and work our way in. I asked Haymitch about it the other day—he even offered his help with the furniture." She says, standing in the doorway.
"How thoughtful he's been lately." I say playfully, and walk over to her. I rest my hand on her waist, and smile.
"So when do we start?" I ask.
"Now."
We make our way through the woods, into the small clearing of the cabin. It small, and quaint. It's in better shape than I'd expected, but the roof is in need of dyer restoration. The outside has overgrown weeds, and it's covered in ash from the bombs. The shutters on the right side are hanging on by a nail, but the ones on the left are nowhere in sight.
"Looks like we've got some work to do." I say, letting out a deep breath. It would take time, but I have a good feeling about it all. It would mean the world to Katniss, to see the end product, maybe in better condition than it had been before. I look over at her as she evaluates the work we've got cut out for us. There's something there, in her eyes. Something about hope, and the possibility of it all being worth-while.
I start on side yard, cutting away at thick weeds, and pulling them out by the root. When I've finally reached the side of the house, I take a wet cloth to the exterior. After scrubbing at it for a while, the ash begins to surrender, and comes off completely.
Katniss does the same to the front of the house.
After hours of clearing away weeds and somewhat cleaning the outside of the house, it's starting to reach a level of normalcy.
Katniss backs away from the house, and crosses her arms over her chest. She seems pleased with herself.
I walk over to her and throw my arm around her. She looks over at me and smiles, and then rests her head on my shoulder.
We decide to take a break for the day and walk back to the house. We pass Ripper, who is planting flowers in her yard, on the way back. She waves, and we do so as well. She looks better. Her eyes, which usually occupied by black rings around them, are bright and exuberant. I think Greasy Sae has finally gotten her to lay off the alcohol and preoccupy herself with other things to do during the day.
Katniss takes my hand and pulls me in the other direction.
"I'm actually feeling pretty hungry. I was in the mood for some cheese buns for lunch." She laughs quietly.
"Coming right up."
I end up making about two dozen, and wrap the leftovers up for later. Katniss and I take a seat in the store front.
She pulls apart the cheese buns, releasing the steam. She closes her eyes and smiles.
"They never get old to me." She opens her eyes again.
"Even after all this time?" I laugh. I make them several times a week, to her request.
"Guess it's sort of a comfort to me." She says.
"Fine by me, I don't mind making them." I pause. "So I think once we get this house done… that maybe…maybe we could get married there…" I pause again, looking up at her for a reaction. She raises an eyebrow but doesn't interrupt. "You know, invite the people in District 12, make it a celebration." I reach for her hand. The pearl seems iridescent in the sunlight.
"I'd like that." She says, stroking the back of my hand with her thumb. "I think everyone in District 12 could use a little positivity." She leans over the table and presses her lips against mine, just like I remember. Remembering every trace of her lips, like puzzle pieces fitting perfectly together. I touch her face, feeling the warmth rising in her cheeks. I smile, and she lets out a quiet laugh.
Her pinked cheeks rise into a smile.
I feel it in the air today. That everything just might turn out alright. That we'll have our wedding in that house. That we will share that with our friends in District 12. I smile again just at the thought of this devastatingly perfect idea.
Hope. That is all I hold on to.
