Chapter 2 (Part 2) Peeta's POV
Every second that passed felt like days, and that's what became of the situation. I thought after that night that they could just stitch up the wounds, use all the best medicines, and that she'd be feeling better in a couple of days. But she never woke up, the days dragged on and on and I never left her side. I didn't even leave her side to go to the bakery. Everything had to be moldy, dusty, and eaten out by the rats at this point, but I didn't care because Katniss was my priority and I wasn't leaving until she woke up. The doctors said that she could be in a permanent coma or that she would wake up. They said that if she didn't wake up for a couple years, I would have to decide whether or not to pull the plug. I can't imagine her not waking up, so I don't. Haymitch visits occasionally, but I can tell that he is avoiding the thought of Katniss not waking up just as much as I am. I stay up all hours of the night, watching her breathe, and wondering what she is dreaming about. I'm hoping she's not having constant nightmares, because I can't wake her up from them. I don't sit down or rest until about 2 in the morning. The doctor suggested that I hire a 24 hour nurse to take care of Katniss, but I told him that I would do it. The first couple of weeks she had a nurse, until I learned how to work the feeding tube and about all the medication she needs. Every night I sit in the couch I've moved next to her bed and I hold her hand. Even though Katniss is in a coma, she always reacts to my touch. Whenever I slip my hand into hers, a finger moves or a muscle in her hand twitches. That spark between us is still there. Every morning when I wake up I give Katniss breakfast through her feeding tube and when it's finished I prop her up so that I can braid her hair. When I'm done I lay her back down and just wait, and wait, and wait, and wait. All I can do is wait.
I do the daily routine by giving her medicine through her feeding tube and I open up the blinds in her room so the moonlight can shine in. I go to the bathroom and ignore the floor where the image of Katniss' frail body, convulsing, always pops into my head. I wash cold water on my face and go back to the couch by her bedside. I get comfortable and slip my hand into hers as my eyes slowly close, fading my real world into a dream. I still have flashbacks and nightmares, but it's hard to even notice them anymore because all I can think about is Katniss. "Peeta," I see Katniss in front of me and in the blink of an eye she has her arms wrapped around me, "Hey, what are you doing here?" I say with unease in my voice. "I'm here because I'm waiting for you," she says with a genuine smile. "Why are you waiting for me Katniss?" I ask, but before she can answer she starts to disappear and this blank heaven like canvas turns into a woodsy landscape. I hear Katniss saying my name in a calm voice, echoing through the trees. I start to run around, looking in all directions, trying to find her. "Peeta, Peeta, Peeta," why does she keep repeating my name when she knows I'm right here?
I hear the birds chirping and I let out a slight groan because waking up from a dream like that was the last thing I wanted to do. I would have found her, not like it would do me any good because it was only a dream. I rub the sleep out of my eyes and something strikes me. I swear I was holding Katniss' hand and I rarely ever let go. When I pick my head up, she is right in my face and I am so taken back that I fall off the back of the small couch. At this point I'm sitting behind the couch because my mind is running wild. Is this another dream? "Peeta, why are you hiding behind the couch? You don't want to see me?" and once she said that I leaped up from behind the couch and walked over to the bed, sitting beside her. I couldn't respond. I didn't know what to believe or think. She was awake, my beautiful Katniss had finally woken up and it was like she was never asleep at all. I examine every single facial emotion she is expressing, taking it in. When she smiles, it feels like all the broken pieces in my chest are coming back together again. Katniss is finally here, she's here with me, and she's not kicking me out of the house. I close my eyes for a second, trying to avoid the rush of emotions in which cause my teary reaction. "Wait, Peeta, why are you crying?" I can hear the confusion in her voice. I suspect she has no clue how long she has been sleeping. "Because Katniss, this is the first time I've heard your voice or seen your smile in 4 months," I say. "4 months? What do you mean?" panic starts to grow in her voice, she continues "It's only been one night, don't you remember? I was attacked and then I fell asleep, last night and now I'm awake?" her breathing is heavier now, like she is going to have a panic attack so I place my hand on her cheek, trying to grab back her attention. "Katniss, you've been in a coma for 4 months," I say looking down at her hands, waiting for her to point me out the door. But to my surprise, she throws herself into my arms, holding so tightly as if I'm actually going to push her away. Then she does something else that I didn't expect at all, she leans up and kisses me softly on lips. The flutter in my chest lets me know that no matter what, we'll always have that spark. Now I just have to worry about who's trying to put it out.