Chapter 21: Heels

"Walk to me." Haymitch says, standing by the door and holding my cane in one hand.

"I can't." I tell him. He rolls his eyes.

"Here's how this is going to work, Princess. You can either walk over here and get your cane or I can throw it away. My patience is running thin today."

"Nobody asked you to come help me." I grumble as I lift myself off my bed, shakily making my way toward him. I snatch my cane out of his hand when I get to him, shooting him a mean look. I know he's trying to help, but I've been in a sour mood for a few days now.

"Good." Haymitch says, leaving the room and coming back a few minutes later with a pair of heels in his hand. "Now, with these." I gasp.

"They're beautiful." I say, feeling the shoes. The old Effie wouldn't think so, with their tattered edges and dull, dirty, purple color, but the new Effie is pleasantly surprised. Since I've been rescued, the only thing I've worn is a hospital sheet. I get a clean one every two and a half weeks(I would love one sooner that that, but District 13 has a disturbingly strict policy with waste), but I've longed for actual clothes. A materialistic characteristic of mine that hasn't died, I guess.

"I don't know if they'll fit." Haymitch says as he hands me the heels to put on. With a little bit of force, I manage to squeeze my foot into the shoes. It's not exactly comfortable, and with my shopping experience I guess that they're about two sizes too small, but they'll do. They're going to have to.

"I'll be okay." I say as Haymitch reaches his arms out, giving me something to lean on as I get up. I'm wobbly in them even though I stand still, which makes me feel like I'm 13 again. I tighten my grip on Haymitch's outstretched arms, walking forward as he walks backward. The shoes hurt even more to walk in, but I don't dare be rude and say anything about it. Not after thinking about how much this must have been to get this pair in the first place. We walk slowly like that around the small room, and I start giggling as we do so. I don't know when I started giggling, but I can't stop, and it blooms into full blown laughter as Haymitch leads me to the bed so I can sit down.

"This is amazing. Thank you, Haymitch." I say sincerely. He gives me a strange look.

"They're just shoes, woman. I didn't know you'd get so happy." I smile.

"Did Plutarch give you these?" I ask. Haymitch nods, putting his hands in his pockets. I take the heels off, giving my feet a break from the tight space.

"Is the war almost over?" Haymitch considers his answer.

"If I were an optimist, I'd say the end is in sight. But being the pessimist I am, I'd say no." I give him a half smile.

"Finnick and Annie got married a few days ago." Haymitch tells me, which brightens me up a little.

"Really? How sweet! What a happy occasion for such a strict district. I'm almost surprised they let them have one." I say, which makes Haymitch smirk.

"They also cut my alcohol." he says, which makes it my turn to smirk. "This is what happens when you get involved with people, Princess. They take your alcohol and make you socialize."

"I bet it's been hard." I say, half sarcastic, half actually caring.

"I'm alive, aren't I?" he says. We make eye contact and I give him a sympathetic smile.

"I suppose you are."

The next few weeks pass by faster than usual, with Haymitch being around very little. He lets me keep the heels, though, so I practice walking in them everyday with my cane. I become proficient enough to walk with only a little help from my cane, so I'm issued out of the hospital, getting assigned a small room for myself. It's dull and bare except for a few pieces of furniture, but I like it a lot more than the hospital room. I'm issued a pair of hand me down clothes, a gray shirt that's a little bigger than I am and a pair of gray pants to match. The brown shoes I get are the only pop of color, besides my tattered heels Haymitch got me.

I settle in quietly, sometimes talking to Plutarch but mostly following the schedule on my arm. In my free time I usually practice in my heels, which are still giving me trouble to walk in alone. But, by the time I have my next conversation with Haymitch, I have the hang of it.

"I need you." he says, making me jump. When did he get here?

"For what?" I ask, feeling myself get a little red.

"Snow's execution. It's soon. Katniss is going to do it, and I offered for you to be the one to plan everything." he explains, and I slowly process the information.

"Will it be over then?" I ask.

"Pretty much. Did you get the news?" Haymitch asks. I shake my head. It takes a few minutes for Haymitch to answer.

"Prim's dead." For a few seconds I don't know who that is, but when I do, my heart drops. Katniss' first reaping flashes in my head, and I see the small, blond haired girl in my mind. Her screams for Katniss fill my ears. Katniss' interview replays in my mind. Her name's Prim, and she's just twelve.

"How? But Katniss... how?" is all I manage to say before putting a hand over my mouth.

"She was a rebel nurse. Got caught in the bombing of the City Circle." he explains. Tears well up in my eyes for numerous reasons. Bombing of the City Circle? How have I missed this piece of information? What has become of my family? Just a few days ago, we got word that Finnick died. Now Prim, too? How is Katniss taking it? Is Peeta even there to help her?

"I don't even know what to say." I admit, exasperated. Haymitch frowns. "Is Katniss going to be okay?"

"She'll survive, that's about it. We'll all survive, Princess. But I can't say anything about the state we'll be in while we do." he tells me. "Can you do it?"

"Yes." I say, barely audible. "Are there any Capitol survivors?" Haymitch gives me a weird look.

"Those were my people, Haymitch. I know you don't understand, but I grew up around those places. Those people. No matter how corrupt. I have family, too, you know." I tell him angrily. Haymitch sighs.

"Well hell, Princess, I don't know. Capitol citizens aren't my top priority." This time I sigh, closing my eyes. I don't want to admit that his comment sort of hurt, even though I knew it was true before he said it.

"I'll be sure to organize things as much as I can. Goodbye, Haymitch." I say, opening my eyes. Haymitch nods. He leaves the room, leaving me to my own thoughts. I close my eyes again, only to see my family in my head. My Mother and Father, my sister and her family. I see Dieter and Julietta Pillaway, my sister's two kids, the most.

The day I see Katniss comes quickly, which hits me with a fit of worry. Over the past week, I've organized as much as I was allowed and was even given a new wardrobe, much to my complete happiness, but nothing could prepare me to see her. Haymitch won't give me any full account about Peeta, only saying that he was doing "well enough" which doesn't satisfy me at all. As to Katniss, he has said even less to her emotional status.

I direct Katniss to get ready when I see her, taking in her pitiful, scarred body. I decide early on that it's best to stay as unattached as possible, for fear of not being professional on such an important day. The day my prediction will come true. Katniss is going to kill Snow. I can't say I'm sad to see him go. When we get to the place where the execution is happening, I take my seat and wait patiently as I watch Coin have a discussion with the victors present. The only victors left. It pains me not to see more of them there, especially Finnick, who had such little time with Annie. Rumors are saying she's pregnant, which leaves me sad and worried, as well as happy. I notice Peeta, who seems to be looking stable, until I see him start shouting at the others around him. What were they discussing?

I eye Haymitch curiously when I see everybody near him looking intensely at him as well. He says something I'm too far away to hear, and after a few more words from Coin, she leaves. I make a mental note to ask Haymitch what that was all about later, if I get the chance to see him. Haymitch and I make eye contact for about a second before he turns away, a expression I can't place on his face. After a brief opening statement, Katniss fixes her bow on Snow. I intensely watch her, and just as I raise my hands to clap, I watch the arrow pierce Coin, making her fall over the balcony. I gasp audibly.