Haymitch's POV

It was almost dusk before I plucked up enough courage to go back in to see her. I'd not told any of the nurses what she had said yet, I wanted to gather my thoughts and talk to Effie myself first. She'd fallen asleep shortly after I'd left her so it was time to wake her up.

"Effie? Ef?" I tapped her good shoulder gently "wake up sweetheart"

She roused, groggily, but didn't return my smile

"Can we talk?" I asked

She let out a tired sigh "only if your going to tell me the truth about what happened" she looked at me "about what you did?"

There was no anger in her voice but I sensed that he had nothing but dislike for me at the moment

"Ef..." I touched her hand but she pulled away again. It hurt that she couldn't stand to be touched by me anymore but I told myself to give it time.

"I didn't..." Finding the words was difficult. "I didn't do anything to you. I wouldn't...I couldn't...ever...I hope you believe that" she wouldn't look at me so I sat beside her and let out a sigh.

"Jacob he's...he was fine, I shouldn't have done what I did, with the whiskey but the kid was freaking out and he needed something ok so, what happened...happened. He was well enough for the fight, he went into the arena and he did good you know...he lasted til the last day, fought well, real well, but the game makers made a new mutant in the last hour or so and it took out the last 3 out of four of them including him, it came out of nowhere, he wasn't prepared."

"Damnit!" Effie cursed "why can't they ever play fair! I can't believe I missed it! I can't believe I wasn't there rooting for him!"

"You didn't miss it though Ef, thats what...thats what I need to tell you. You where there, with me, watching the whole thing"

"What?" She blinked in frustration and I could tell she was trying to search her mind for any such memory, that or she was curing me under her breath for being a liar

"Effie..." this time I took her hand and I held on to it "that was three years ago now. Three!"

Her eyes widened in disbelief

"What are you talking about it was just yester- wasn't it...no? Three years? Are you drunk? I don't- I don't underst- THREE YEARS!?" She shook her head again and again and again

"Is it true? Have I been unconscious? For all that time? What happened Haymitch!?"

She looked at me now with anger in her eyes

"You've been unconscious yes but...for almost 10 months now not three years..."

I didn't know how to explain it any easier I was even confusing myself. I continued anyway...

"Ten months ago you...you were in a car accident. You were driving back to the apartment from dinner with Jacque Winters when-"

"Ha!" She cried out "Jacque Winters? As in Thee Jacque Winters!? The movie star? Are you completely mad Haymitch?!" She tugged her hand from mine "lies! All lies! Why can't you admit that your just a violent drunk who went a little too far and-"

"Because he hasn't touched a drop since the night you came in here!" Cinnas voice bellowed from behind us

He came towards us and kissed Effie on the head, she could see the tears in his eyes

"Cinna?"

"It's the truth Ef. You had been helping Jacque plan his next party, his driver was taking you home when...when it happened"

She knew Cinna wouldn't lie to her but I could tell she was struggling to believe him and that upset her even more

"Why don't I remember?" She whispered, and again we lost her to her memories as she searched and searched within herself

"Do you remember this?" Cinna asked and gently placed a small piece of fabric in Effie's hand. It was Ivory, Organza and speckled with gold

She was silent for a minute as she inspected the delicate piece

The suddenly,

"Oh my goodness" she cried as she ran the soft silk between her fingers

"I do...I remember this!"