When Gale awoke that morning, the sun was burning his eyes and the side where his wife should be was empty. Normally he wouldn't have thought twice about. Madge always woke up before him when he was drinking the night before. In fact, he was sure most of the population woke up before he did when he was hung over. But there was tenseness in the air, an uneasiness that had never been there before. Yes, Madge would be upset, furious even. And that was understandable. There was nothing he could say to defend himself. This had happened too many times and now that the baby was on the way, their relationship wasn't just on the line. Their child's life was going to be affected by his drinking.

Slowly but surely he got himself down the stairs, moving his way around the piano when his eye caught on something. Gale looked over at the sheet music on the piano, he normally wouldn't have. The sheet music just looked like writing in a foreign language to him. There wasn't sheet music on the stand though; it was a letter and next to it was a glass of water with two pills beside it.

Nervously, he grabbed the letter and began to read the small loopy handwriting he knew to be none other than his wife's.

Dear Gale,

I'm sure by now you've realized that I'm not home, which isn't too uncommon when you've been drinking. The only difference this time is that I'm not going to be home anytime soon.

I've gone to visit Peeta and Katniss, I'll probably stop by with your family as well. Don't worry I won't tell your mother anything. The last time I did that, I'm sure you remember, ended badly and with a huge fight. It wasn't my place to tell your mother then and it isn't now. So now even though I'm desperate I will keep that information to myself.

I don't want to fight with you anymore. It's exhausting. And now with the baby on the way I'm just so exhausted all of the time. It's just not good for the baby or me.

I want you to fight. For your son. For your wife. But most of all for yourself.

I can't fight your demons for you Gale. If I could, I would. I would fight all of the demons that plague all of your thoughts and dreams.

I don't want to lose you to them.

I don't want to lose you at all. This drinking is awful for your health and I know you don't realize it yet because you function so well, but that won't last forever. It will catch up with you. Did you know that sometimes I have to wake you up in the middle of the night because you stop breathing? You start making these awful sounds, as if you're choking, and I have to shake you until you start breathing regularly again. It's the most frightening thing in the world. To think that I might lose you.

I used to blame you. At times, I even hated you.

I could understand not fighting for me, but for our son? He deserves better than this. You deserve better than this.

Oh I'm sorry, that's what I came home so excited about yesterday. We're having a boy. You're going to have a son. I bought this mahogany crib that I wanted us to build together, but that obviously isn't going to happen.

Maybe you can build it while I'm away? That would be nice.

I want you to get better, and I know you've tried before. But can you try again?

I will come back. I wouldn't leave you. It'd hurt far too much.

I just need some time to sort things out, and I think you need some too.

I love you Gale. I love you so much. More than you will ever know.

You're an amazing person. You're loyal and strong. You're so strong, Gale. But your addiction makes you weak. Something I never thought I would ever say about you.

I need you to be strong Gale. Our son needs you to be strong.

I'm sorry I had to go, but I hope it will make you see how serious I am about this, about your recovery.

I'd like to say that I wouldn't come back until you get better, but I don't think I'd survive without you. Even this broken Gale is better than no Gale at all. I feel like

I feel like I've become a kind of enabler for you, which is another reason why I thought it'd be best if I left.

But I won't be very long, but I wouldn't withhold our son from you, nor myself. You need us as much as we need you. So please? Fight.

Fight off your demons, Gale.

Your wife,

Madge Undersee

Gale didn't know what to think. He swallowed the pills left out for him and sat at the piano bench, not noticing that the letter had fallen from his fingers and was on the floor.

She's gone.

But Gale didn't want that. He needed her. That's what he told her last night. That he needed her to help him. Granted, he told her that every time, but that didn't make it any less true. She was his rock. His strength. His heart. Without her he was nothing. Absolutely nothing.

What could he say? That she didn't have a right to visit their friends and family?

But he didn't want to miss out on her growth. Ever since they had begun dating Gale had imagined their future together and part of that was her pregnant. He loved her pregnant. She was glowing. Gale had never thought it would be possible for her to be more beautiful than the day of their wedding, but somehow now with her flushed cheeks and rounded belly she topped even that day. It took his breath away sometimes. He didn't want to miss placing his hand on her belly, feeling their child kick. He wanted all of that. Though he knew he didn't deserve any of it, that didn't stop him from wanting all of it.

He searched the kitchen table for her car keys and brought crib into the house, placing it in the middle of the living room.

A crib.

For their baby.

For their son.