I do not own The Hunger Games

Chapter Twenty Three- Prominence

I woke up early in the morning to a harsh banging downstairs. I dragged myself out of bed because Peeta wasn't beside me. Its strange how much harder everything was without him. It's like he's my oxygen; my main life source. Once I reached the living room I saw him. My memories convulsed into how he was when he was rescued from Snow. He was sweating immensely and his face was bright red. I couldn't stop the scream that echoed from my core. It startled him and he looked at me viciously. He smashed his fists into the wall and groaned in agony.

"Peeta?" I was able to whisper in desperate attempt to help him.

"GET OUT KATNISS!" he yelled back angrily.

I fell to the ground, trying to inch away. I did not want to leave so I hesitated on the stairs.

Then in a more anguished voice full of sorrow he said, "Please! Just go back to sleep."

He dropped to his knees and grabbed his hair fiercely. I bolted up the stairs and went straight for the closet. I curled into our coats as tears streamed down my face. Pull yourself together I told myself. You have to do something for him. He would do something for you. But what do I do? I need to call Dr. Aurelius. Except, oh god, the only other phone that isn't downstairs is in my Moms old room. I can't go in there. For peeta I thought all the way down the hall until my hand was resting on the cold, untouched doorknob. I let the thought of Peeta's strong arms around my waist and his blonde curls falling on his forehead guide me to turn the knob. My moms smell over took me all to quickly and I fell to the ground. Unable to stand I crawled to the phone by her bed and dialed the long since memorized number.
Ring ring
I started to hum.
Ring ring
Luckily my mom hadn't decorated her room with much. There was just a small quilt and a case of dead flowers. The lack of her personality made this slightly easier.
Ring ring
Dead flowers. Dead districts. Dead Katniss and Peeta. Dead father. Dead family.
I let out a miniature shriek and curled into myself on the ground
Dr. Aurelius answered, "Hello?"
I was gasping but managed to whisper, "Help" into the phone.
He responded quickly and said help was coming. But I knew that was a lie. Help never came with death, and that's what the room was filled with. That's what this house was filled with. Without Peeta there was only the mourning silence of all the people that have died.
With that the line clicked off and I was left with Peeta's sickly screams and my mom's smell.

My eyes opened in a second to reveal the familiar ceiling and lighting of my bedroom. But my body felt heavy and foreign because Peeta's familiar hold was not there. My gut clenched and I was drowned in my memory. It took me two hours to get myself downstairs where Haymitch was waiting for me. The stove was cold and the air did not smell of muffins. Without the greeting of Peeta's smile and outstretched arms I wanted to dissolve.

"Sweet heart." Haymitch said with a tone of pity. I knew something bad had happened. Tears slid down my cheeks and once again Haymitch stood up and held me. I cried into his shoulder and he told me everything that had happened.

Peeta was locked in the study. With all my nightmares, I thought with despair. Haymitch and a few others that had come to the rescue the night before had not been able to get him out of the house. He simply had what seemed to be the flu. Aurelius had explained that the illness had distracted Peeta from his recovery. He would be back to how he was in about six months but this was a major set back. He was not allowed to be alone with me for a few weeks. This only fueled my weeping.

Then there were days of sitting by the fireplace and having Greasy Sae make sure I was till alive. But this time my sadness was more prominent. I could feel it in my bones and it stung at my chest and eyes. This time there was nothing to do but wait. Most of the time I didn't even know what I was waiting for. All I was aware of was the fire in front of my breaking hums and me…

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings

Them true

Here is the place where I love you.

That's all I really wanted these days.

My dandelion in the spring.

Been a while, hasn't it? If you are still reading, then I love you ever so much. Sorry for errors, it happens. Merry Christmas.