"They can't take you, no, no, I won't let them take you, no." She muttered, to herself over and over. Eventually she let go, and I was embraced by Palmer, and the Oreaster.
"You try to win, do you hear me?" Palmer says, setting his hands on my shoulder. Oreaster is holding my mother. "You try your very best. Give it everything you've got."
"I will." I say, and nod. "I promise you, I will."
"Time to go." One of the peacekeeps says, and Palmer leaves first. Oreaster kisses my forehead, hugs me, and leaves. I see a tear trace down his cheek as he pulls away. My mother hugs me, holding me tight, refusing to let go, until she's pulled away from me by a peacekeeper, just having time to kiss my forehead and shout "I love you!" beore the door closes behind her.
It's silent for only a few moments before the door opens and Gale appears. He rushes towards me, putting his arms around my and pressing his lips against the top of my head. I try not to cry, to be strong, but I can feel myself crumbling. I feel a drop of wet on the top of my head, and know that he's having a hard time being strong, too.
"You've seen me with snares." He says in a rush. "You've seen me hunt, you've helped me, you've helped Peeta in the bakery, you can do camoflauge, you can do it, you can."
I wonder if I should tell him, now. My secret. The thing I've told no one else. Not even my mother, or my brothers. But I can't - there are cameras and peacekeeprs everywhere. I can't tell him, for fear of endagering us both. So I stay silent, not being able to offer him one last piece of reassurance.
He pulls away, setting his hands on my shoulders. "Win. You do whatever it takes. You win, okay?"
I nod, blinking back the tears, I nod, and then before I know it his lips are against mine, and his hands on my back, keeping my pressed against him. I kiss him back, desperately trying not to cry and break apart as the peacekeeprs enter and force him away. "You can do it, Lee." He says.
"You can win!"
And then the door is closed behind him.