Chapter 2

We had to leave a few things we couldn't carry like the TV, which was fixated into the wall, and the large bed. Other than that, we brought our bed sheets, an old shaving mirror, and a few knickknacks to place around the house. He presented me with a beautiful bouquet of evening Primroses just before we crossed the threshold into our new home. I smiled at him, letting my eyes do all the talking because I was pretty sure that I wouldn't be able to speak at that moment anyways. He swept me up into his arms, and kissed me as we crossed the threshold. We broke away only so that we could finish unloading our things, and then begin our toasting.

There is this marriage ritual in District Twelve where the husband and wife, once they have moved into their new home, toast a piece of bread and eat it together. Sometimes, if families could afford it, they would buy perhaps a little packet of grain and sprinkle it over the newlyweds as they crossed the threshold of their new home together. If the family really had enough money, they would spring for a bit of cake. We had no family with us on this day, so that was unfortunately out of the question. And we didn't see the point in wasting good grain by sprinkling it on the floor, so that was out too. Besides those facts, neither of us would feel officially married until we had completed this task.

Once we had finally finished settling all of our things into our new home, we sat down to begin our toasting.

"I'll go get the bread" I offered.

He agreed, and went to go turn the oven on, since we no longer would be able to afford a toaster. It felt better, more tradition anyway to do it the seam way, since I was technically one of them now. I slightly chuckle to myself as I got out the bread I bought from the Mellark's bakery on our way home. We decided on regular, cheap, tough bread, the only type the people from the seam would buy. We didn't want to extravagant and buy expensive bread when we might need the money later in life. Plus, buying expensive bread really means only one thing in District Twelve. Either you are very rich and can afford to buy the bread on a daily basis, or you are buying it for a special occasion, i.e. getting married. We didn't want to raise suspicion either, so buying the expensive bread would have set off alarm bells in the Mellark's head as we bought the bread together. The news would no doubt reach our families, and we couldn't risk that.

I sigh, and grab the loaf of bread from the counter, and bring it over to where he has sat down in front of the oven.

"It's ready" he says with a wide smile. "The oven is perfectly warm. We can start our toasting." I hand over the loaf of bread, and he immediately rips off a piece, puts in on the oven rack, and waits. A few minutes later, the toast is ready. He gingerly pulls it out of the oven with careful fingers, and holds it out to me. I bite into it.

"It's perfect." I say. "It's just absolutely, wonderfully perfect." He gives me a smile that makes my heart melt and hands the loaf back over to me.

I take off a piece of bread and let it sit in the oven. I must have waited too long to take the bread out, because it's slightly burnt on the crusts, and i can smell a burning scent emanating from it.

"Oh no." I say, my voice dripping heavily with despair. "I've burnt the toast. Now our toasting is ruined." I put my face in my hands and begin to cry softly.

"No no no its fine love, really." He says and he pulls me in for a hug. I immediately relax; his body is so warm and comforting that I just can't help it. He hands me back my burnt piece of toast, and i gingerly put it onto his tongue. He bites off a piece, chews it, and smiles.

"Love, I don't know why you got so upset" he says to me in a teasing voice. "That was the most delicious piece of wedding toast I have ever had, and ever will have. You are my wife, my love, and I will love you forever no matter what obstacles life may throw our way. Until the end of time, my love." He smiles down at me. I start to cry softly, not out of sadness but out of joy. Utter and complete joy. That is what I am feeling. I smile in return, and kiss him, my kiss thanking him for all the thoughts and emotions I couldn't possibly put into words.