My emotions have subsided, for now at least, they are replaced with the joy of grabbing a coil of rope and a trident. It's easy to trace my way to the hidden side of the beach. It's then I see her, swimming beautifully in the water as if it was an art.

It's like those stories I was told as a younger boy – she looks like a mermaid, the spitting image of one. Long wet hair that ends up curling once tasted by the sunshine, legs that easily find their movement in water. She is home in that sea, just as I am.

I decide to just sit on the sand. Like the day we first met, but this time it is me watching her swim from afar. It makes sense to me now, why she thought I looked so beautiful in the water – the sun sparkles its rays in the water and mixes with blues, pinks, and pastel yellows. It's hard not to look like an Adonis in such a perfect setting.

She is hilarious to watch, her body swims without a care as she edges near the dolphins. At first they accept her into their ranks but she is quickly slapped by one of their fishy flippers. I can't help but laugh loudly even in spite of what has happened today. My jovial demeanor quickly fades, however, as she dives deep down into the water for longer than I expect.

Immediately panic strikes me like it had the first time she ended up tangled in the weeds below the earth. To my relief she returns to the surface and with a wave of her arm she beckons for me to join her, she must have caught my laugh and noticed I was staring.

I strip off my shirt and pants, having no fear of my body after the Games. It's hard to imagine how good she's gotten at swimming since my absence, but she is good. I've lost some of my own ability by not being near water larger than a tub for several weeks, we're probably on the same level right now.

For the first time in a long time I laugh, without one single care attached to it. I catch her body and playfully pull her under the water with me our wet bodies connect as if we both understand what has happened since my leave but we refuse to acknowledge it. Different rays of fish swim up around us, as if recognizing the great fisherman himself is back.

We do this for what seems like hours, until the sun is departing from us. I grab her hand as we swim back to shore and flop tiredly on land. Her hand stays entwined in mine without any hint of release.

"My name is Annie," you can tell she's been swimming the whole day, her voice is breathy and hushed with salt. She turns over onto her side letting the sand stick to her wet hair and skin, "and you're Finnick Odair, the victor of District Four."

I turn over on my side as well, getting just as much sand on my wet body as her. In the same attitude she has offered me I joke back, "My name is indeed Finnick Odair. And you are Annie, the girl who for some reason never left my mind during my time away... But the same girl I know so little about," a smile creeps to both of our faces.

Then it disappears as her emerald eyes darken, "Finnick, was it hard being in that arena? I still have quite a few years to pass before I'm clear of the Games," I instinctively take her hand, I don't know what my mind's motives are, but something is clouding my rationale – blind instinct, perhaps?

"Annie, I hope you never have to go those games. I hope this innocence you possess is never washed away," I smooth the hair back from her face. We lie like that. What attracts me to her is still shrouded from my reasoning.

For the next six months, this is how I spend my time. Ignoring the world around me, the world of hate, danger and lies – and instead only spending it with the mermaid. Somewhere along the passage of the months I realize that it was my lady who sent her to me, who sent Annie. We talk about many things together, and in more ways than one it's like we've been friends forever. Like I never went into the Hunger Games and instead I grew up next door to this strange elven creature.

But happiness never lasts... and the peaceful days of my Homecoming pass, leaving me to only be whisked away and thrown back into the fray of the Capitol for the District Tours. Mags knocks on my door, I've spent time with her on my "vacation" as well. We share meals when Nana Koa works late and the old victor even looks after Sedna when I go out to be with Annie. She really likes the little girl, treats her just like a daughter.

"Secrets," has been the only word of advice I have gotten from her and I can't interpret. She's repeated it too, like it's so obvious I should understand immediately... but I don't.

I feel more alone then ever when I step onto the train, I feel like Nicky should be here with me, or at least some other child. But I enter alone. Even though people celebrate me now, even though they cheer my name and offer me support I have never felt more different from them. They're a sweet people, District Four, but none of them know the true extent of the Games. The tax it places on its survivors.

Thomps continually nags at me for pulling my hair as we travel away from the village. But it's all I can do to keep sane, pull at something – it's this or chew my nails, or tap my foot, or bite on my lip... I've gotten more anxious since the Games and at least Mags understands, she knows I am only a lonely fifteen year old boy doubting his place in this whole mess of a world.

Thanks for reading!