Ugh. I'm so sad after writing this but I saw a prompt for it on Tumblr and I just couldn't resist.
It's the 26th again. I get off work a few minutes early and buy a single lily and a green fern from the lady who runs the tiny florist shop.
"Thanks Mags," I say, handing her my money. She smiles, rests a hand on mind and squeezes gently. I look down on my way out.
When I get there, I know I'm late. I know because the blond man is already there, just a few graves down. Usually he gets there a few minutes after me, and just stands, looking at the four adjacent graves, laying a bright yellow daisy on two of them, a daffodil on one, and a red carnation on the last. But today he kneels in front of one, the one with the red carnation. Usually he just stares at them and blinks away his tears, but today, his shoulders shake and his hands are pressed to his face.
I lay my fern down on my father's lonely grave, touching the cool stone and smiling softly. He's one with nature now, just like he always loved.
My smile drops away when I look back over my shoulder. I make my way softly over to where the man - I should say boy, he's probably no older than I am - is standing still. I rest my hand gently on his shoulder, making him jump.
"Are you okay?" I ask. He sniffs, shaking his head and wiping his cheeks.
"I-I'm sorry, I'll be alright." He says shakily, his voice cracking. I open my arms and step closer, and his face scrunches up again as a new wave of sobs are muffled by my shoulder. His arms wrap around me tightly. I stroke his back soothingly, not saying anything. He's warm and solid and alive. Something tells me he's been on his own, too. Just like I have, and my heart goes out to him. He finally pulls away, murmuring embarrassed apologies and eyeing my damp shirt. I shake my head, crouching down to put my lily down on the grave with the red carnation, seeing the name there. John Mellark, died three months ago to the day. I remember the small funeral procession, I was here then too, singing next to my dad's grave.
I stood up, taking the boy's hand.
"Do you want to go get some hot chocolate? It will maybe make you feel better." I offer. He lets out a heavy breath and nods.
I wrap an arm around his waist and we walk together down a couple blocks to Annie's, where I order two hot chocolates and the boy goes into the washroom to splash water on his face. I find us a table next to the window, put his chocolate across and slide into the bench, tracing the wood grain and resting my chin on my other hand.
"I'm really sorry, I don't even know you-" He starts. I smile up at him.
"That's okay. I'm Katniss. I lost my dad too, not that long ago." I tell him.
"I'm sorry. I'm Peeta, I lost my mom, dad and two brothers." He says, another tear running from his downcast eyes. I take a sip of my drink. "Let me pay you back for the chocolate." He reaches for his wallet in his jeans but my hand on his arm stop him.
"It's okay, I know Annie, she didn't charge us." I assure him. His eyebrows go up but he doesn't say anything, drinking some of his hot chocolate. We both look at the table for a few minutes, the silence not uncomfortable, and eventually he looks up. "You're Katniss Everdeen, we went to school together. Elementary school." Now my eyebrows lift.
"You remember me?" I inquire. He nods assuredly.
"You used to sing, all the time. I knew I recognized your voice the day of the burial. Then one day you just disappeared. I never saw you again." I lower my eyes.
"I just moved back with my dad, he got a job here but my mom had to stay out of town for the hospital she worked at. My little sister stayed with her. Now..." I clear my throat. "Now I'm by myself." I take another drink.
"You have a beautiful voice." He compliments gently, sipping his own. I smile, whispering my thanks. We finish our drinks quietly and get up to clear our mugs. I pull out my phone and unlock it, opening up a new contact and handing it to Peeta. A small smile settles on his lips as he types in his information. He hands me his phone as well, telling me, "in case you need someone to laugh or cry with." We walk back to the graveyard together, my arm looped casually around his in a gesture of companionship and comfort. We part ways with a warm embrace and I leave with a smile on my face.