Chapter 3

Madge

I had already thought I was dreaming.

Being the Mayor's daughter, I had already taught myself that I was going to be treated differently. The other girls my age would probably be surrounding me for every single day I existed if I didn't change paths, and probably my only free time was when I had to sleep in my bed alone for the rest of the night (or if I even get the chance). But since I chose that different path, I was avoided like plague. The more, the merrier, wasn't exactly applying to me. I had known through growing that I had to make my own sacrifices to make sure that I get what I want, because I reassure you, being an official's daughter didn't have all its benefits.

But I had gotten something fairly different.

Last night I had made sure my mother was fast asleep, without enduring her usual pains again. Every single moment she breaks down was like a piece of my heart taken away from me. It…breaks me seeing her like that, her eyes bulging as if she would want to take them out of her sockets, her face getting paler. We were both going through the same hell. But the night she was granted a bit of freedom, a freedom away from her problems, and Rosie volunteered to stay longer for me to get rested.

My room, which wasn't a usual mess had greeted me oppositely. I hadn't got the energy to even fix myself up. In the end, I decided to just abandon it and get it back tomorrow in shape. I went out of the house, and took a walk.

For the first time, I was seeing a better side of District 12—people weren't frowning, nor were they smiling, but it was a better sight. It was as if they weren't looking at problems ahead, or thinking about problems they had now. For the first time, District 12 looked a bit…happy, and I was surprised I was seeing that.

I walked the usual path that stood in the sides, not even knowing where my destination should be. Freedom, it was…nice. Then I spotted the same thing that troubled me for weeks now.

Dandelions.

There, they stood in the area, all clumped up and sticking their heads out to me. Dandelions…not exactly my favorite, but it was clear it had some sort of connection with me. No one's here, anyway, I told myself, and I have freedom with me. It was getting dark, but those flowers were like shining gold.

The tiny things had their heads standing up to me, and I picked the biggest one out, admiring its structure again.

And, feeling the same way like before, I knew someone was watching me.

And without guessing, I already knew who he was.

Gale, who wasn't the same looking without his stained shirt and usual dirty appearance, was staring right at me. Gale, the same person who had always said the right words to tear me up. Gale, the only person in the world who had connected my heart like it was stone.

And clearly, this wasn't my night.

I threw the dandelion away before he could comment, and the dandelion bits blew to different directions. Before I could turn, the expected came.

"What'd you do that for?"

I didn't even sigh. "Nothing. You're going to pick on me again, anyway."

"Well, why'd you let my opinion ruin yours?"

Yes, Madge, why? And I found the right answer. . "Because my opinion always stands inferior to what you believe in."

It was pointless continuing the conversation anyway, so I had made myself clear that as long as he had me standing in his way I was going to be his meat. The crisp air bellowed through my hair, and before I could turn his hands were in my shoulders.

And before the next second passed he suddenly removed his jacket, and warmth suppressed over me.

"What's this for?"

"You look close to death with your appearance." He adjusted the jacket around my shoulders, his scent suddenly filling me up. "Looks like you and the cold never go around much."

"You don't need to do this." I started to take the jacket off, but he stopped my hands.

"I don't," he said as he shrugged, "But it looks like you need it."

"I don't need it."

"Trust me, you do." He patted my shoulder, his other hand still in mine. "Come on, I'll walk you home." I looked at him, and he wasn't smiling, but he was willing. And the dumb person I am, I had accepted his fair show.

By the time I got home, I had presumed the atmosphere was tense. I was right. Rosie hurried down the stairs, and when she saw me, she mouthed one word.

Mother.

I quickly forgot all about my worries and put myself into one state—getting my mother out of the living hell her mind dwells. I went up her room and saw her panicked state, the same expression, her hands almost ripping her hair, and her voice shrilly. Rosie went up the stairs, and when she came back, she was holding a glass of water.

I looked at Rosie, and her expression tells that she hadn't given her morphling yet. Rosie wouldn't, unless I decided whether to give her some or not. Lately I've been too much occupied on the fact that my mother grows practically worse with the morphling, and I worry it might have some effect on her system. But this time, I think I would have to let the decision go.

I sighed and nodded to Rosie, who quickly understood the message and took out the hidden box of morphling vials, which we purposely hid for my mother not to use it too much. But in this case, it would have to be different again.

Rosie had volunteered to let my mother take what she needs and get some sleep, and she put me again to my room. It was still the mess. I wasn't even bothered. In my life, everything was a mess. Why bother fixing up one when there's too many of it?

Gale

"Gale, can you teach me now?" Rory, who was busy playing with the hailed meat from the meadow, had asked the similar question many, many times already.

"Not yet, kiddo." I ruffled his hair up like when he was young. "Not yet."

"Ugh. You always get to decide."

"Well, I'm the older person here." Fact. Anyways, I didn't want him to get hurt by flying snares or a sudden arrow from a suspicious bow, so I try my best to keep it from him. But I knew he was going to be hunting soon, with me, and I can't keep it out of his reach forever.

Posy, who was busy playing with her brand new mittens, suddenly came up the chair and surprised us. "I have mittens!"

Rory rolled his eyes and left the meat alone, finally. Posy, who was still busy admiring her mittens, went down the chair and also left, and my mother suddenly came in the kitchen, and was drying up.

"Aren't you supposed to be going?" my mother asked as she dried her hands with a washcloth.

"Yeah." I nodded, and I left the meat alone for my mother to do whatever she pleases herself with it. I put on my usual uniform and left to go to the mines, where my usual energy usually applies to.

Before I went to the mines I still had needed to trade in a couple of meat from the meadow to the usual folk, and I had went to the Hob. Greasy Sae took another wild dog from me, and gave me a few more coins than the last one, and the other seller in the Hob had traded one of my squirrels with some oil. I had made my usual trip to the baker, and though had more food than us still took in my squirrels. It was his favorite.

I passed by the Justice Building again, and this time I didn't have strawberries to spare. I didn't mind picking up a bunch, because I knew the Mayor wouldn't be ordering again after some time, because as time went by, the Mayor was too busy to even care about strawberries. It was almost end of the tour, and Katniss was about to get home.

And as I looked forward, squinting my eyes, the sight seized me.

The train cars were back.