I made sure to look for Katniss every day. Every day she seemed no better. She looked tired and sad. Same with her once happy little sister, she now slowly shuffles in the hallway from class to class. I have not heard either of them talk. Sometimes before I could catch Katniss singing to herself in the hallway, now I'm lucky to even hear her footsteps. It's been three months since her father died. About after the first month I seemed to notice her once round full face is now turning hollow, same with Prim's. I have not seen their mother since a few days after her husband's funeral; I went with my dad to say sorry for their loss, hoping it would make up for not saying sorry before. It was pouring rain that day. As we walked with the dull grey sky and moisture surrounding me, I began to think of backing out, that it would not be too late; that I could pull on the sleeve of my dad's light blue coat and explain how I wished not to go any further. He would probably agree to it, just tell me to go home. But that's when I realize it's too late. We now we surrounded by dull coloured homes. We must be in the seam, closing in on Katniss's house. Now all I do is hope she is not home, that maybe it will just be the mother with her sad eyes, trying to pull together for company. Once we reach her house my father does two brisk knocks on the mahogany coloured door. It's the one thing that stand out on her home, the rest of the house seems to be a pale grey, not the same as the sky, this grey is lighter, closer to white then anything. We wait a few moments. Then someone answers the door, I don't know who they are at first. He is wearing this nice purple coat, with a greenish coloured pants, I think he is from the capitol when all of a sudden I recognize him, that's right; he is Mayor Undersee, A somewhat short man, with hair that is starting to go grey. I wonder what he is doing here. Like my question to my father so many years ago, he answers it before I ask, but this time not to me, but my father. "Ah, Mr. Mellark! Came to say your respects, I was just doing the same thing, also I was telling them about the medal of valour. Well I must run, but do come inside, I don't think Ms. Everdeen will mind." I remember my father always telling me how that man loved to talk, he also seemed to know what you were thinking, he swore that once he had a conversation with him for an hour, it just was not a conversation because my father never said a word the whole time, just stood there and nodded. Once the man had gone around us we headed inside the home and out of the pouring rain. We were there for a few minutes. We said our respects then left. She was silent and very unfocused the entire time. There were no children anywhere. It was like any other weekend. I was helping my mom all morning with the bread, and then in the afternoon my dad would teach me more about frosting a cake. I was getting very good at it. Sadly though it had been raining all week so I never got a chance to play with my chalk, I'm also sure my mother is going to take it away soon. It was around lunch time when my father said he would not be able to do the frosting with me today, something about a meeting, so I would have to help my mom with the bread all day. I was a little upset by this; I was looking forward to it. But I guess it was not all that bad. It was right after supper, there was only about one more hour until we closed up shop. Most of the other shops closed at this time, but my mother insisted to keep the shop open. I don't even know why. So I was putting the bread into the oven when I caught a glimpse of her though a window, I saw the braid and knew it was Katniss, but like all other times when I saw Katniss I drop everything in my hands. By doing that I burnt the bread. Causing my mom to yell at the top of her lungs, then she slapped me on the face. I have grown used to it. But I still get upset by this. We hear a rumble of what I think is trash can from out back. My mom gets this facial expression that scares me. I'm terrified to be honest. I don't know why. I have seen it before, she was probably wearing it on her face as she slapped me, but then I realize why I'm terrified, is not because she is angry with me, but with whoever is back there. I try to get around her, to stop her but she tells me to get the bread and give it to our pigs. I do it as fast as I can, but I still don't beat her out there, I could not save Katniss Everdeen from my mother. By the time I'm out there my mother is trying to compose her face for the costumer that just came in to the shop, you could hear the joyful chime it makes even with the sound of the rain. I rush out but not in time to save Katniss, she looks like how she does in school, just with a knew emotion, defeated. It happens again, as I try to comfort her with words, the words don't escape my mouth. I just stand there watching her, then for the first time she is watching me back. I take in the detail of her face. Rip off the burnt parts of the bread, through it to the pigs, then at the last second, through the part that had not been burnt to her. Then with the second loaf I do the same. I capture the image of her face, which was full of shock, turn on my heels and hurry into the bakery. Only regretting not going out and giving it to her that night when I realized that would have been the better thing to do. I will always regret it. Always.