Chapter 25

I can't be anywhere near my house right now. I need distance. I need to disappear. So I walk, as fast as I can down the gravel road to the Seam. I don't know where Gale lives but I desperately need him right now. The clearing he took me too is the only place I can think to go. My mind is racing. How can she just not come back home? How can she just stay there forever? And why didn't they tell me? I didn't get to say goodbye. Didn't get to touch her or hug her. Couldn't tell her how much I love her. Couldn't tell her how much I need her. I don't understand. By the time I make it to the clearing I can't breathe. My lungs are begging for air yet I can't seem to swallow any. My tears are streaming down my face and I couldn't care less. My chest feels heavy and my head hurts. My ears are ringing and things are starting to spin. I fall to the ground and lay there, sobbing uncontrollably into the grass.

It's then that I feel someone pulling me up. Two arms come around my body and hold me close. It's Gale. He holds me to his chest and gently strokes the back of my neck as I cry into him.

"Madge, what happened?" He whispers as my crying calms a little.

"My mother…she's…she's gone." It comes out muffled because my face is still buried in his chest and I'm choking on my own sobs.

He gently pulls me back a little from his chest so that he can see my face and wipes my tearstained face. "What do you mean gone?" He whispers trying to understand.

"The Capitol. They kept her there. Put her in a facility. That's why my father was gone this past week. To take her there. And nobody bothered to tell me about it."

He doesn't say a word. Just pulls me back to his chest and slowly rocks me back and forth, presses kisses to the top of my head.

"I didn't get to tell her goodbye. I didn't even see her before she left." I sob.

"Shhhh. It's gonna be okay." He whispers in my ear, still holding me tightly against him. "Shhhh."

"I had to get out of there. They were getting rid of all her things Gale. I couldn't be there."

"It's okay. I've got you now. You're okay."

"How did you find me? I don't know where you live, I couldn't come to you."

"Rory saw you heading this way. He came and got me. Knew something was wrong."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't be falling apart like this. I just didn't expect that. I wasn't prepared for it. I'm sorry." I tell him as I pull away from his chest and wipe my face with my hands. I'm suddenly a little embarrassed that he's seeing my come undone like this.

"You're sorry? Don't be ridiculous. You can come to me about anything. I'm sorry that you didn't know how to find me. Sorry you had to find out about your mother like you did. But please don't ever be sorry about letting me know the way you feel. I'm here for you." He says and again pulls me back to his chest, kissing the top of my head.

"I feel so betrayed Gale. They should have told me."

"I know."

He holds me like this until my crying stops and a little longer even after that. Eventually he pulls me to my feet and kisses my forehead again.

"We need to get you cleaned up and head into town."

I nod. I know I must look terrible but I just cannot go back to my house right now. I just can't do it. "I can't go back home. I'll just have to go to the viewing like this. I don't even care anymore."

"Not a chance in hell I'm letting you go to town like this. C'mon, I know what we can do."

He takes my hand and leads me out of the clearing and down the gravel path back into the Seam. Just a little ways down the path he leads me to a house. It's small and old, like all the other houses in the Seam. Is this his house? I wonder to myself. Once we're inside he sits me down at the kitchen table. He disappears into the other room for a moment and returns with his mother.

"Madge? I'm Hazelle, Gale's mother. Looks like we need to get you cleaned up a bit before we head into town." She says softly. I assume Gale explained things to her when they were in the other room because she doesn't ask any questions.

"Thank you." It's all I can say without the fear of tears starting to break free again.

She washes my face with cool water and then presses a rag soaked in some sort of tonic under each of my eyes. It instantly makes the swelling go down. I can tell that much just by how much better it feels. After that she mashes up some small red berries in a small bowl and dabs the juice from them on my lips. She places a small, tarnished mirror in front of me and I'm amazed at my reflection. It's like I haven't even been upset. My eyes are no longer red and swollen. My lips are stained a pale pink color. I look fresh and rested, not at all like the puffy mess I was 20 minutes ago.

"There. Good as new. No one will ever suspect a thing." She says, patting my hand with hers.

"I'm sorry this is the way you had to meet me. I'm normally in much better control of my emotions. Thank you for your help in making me presentable again."

"Not to worry. I'm pretty sure I'll be seeing a lot more of you in the future. My son seems to be very taken with you." She says smiling.

"Aww, Ma. Really?" Gale groans and puts his hand over his face in embarrassment.

Hazelle and I both share a little laugh at his expense. We then head outside and Hazelle rounds up her other children and they walk into town with Gale and I trailing behind them. Rory turns back to look at us and when our eyes meet I take the opportunity to mouth the words "thank you" to him. He nods and then turns back around. I'm glad he saw me, glad he found Gale for me. I'm so thankful for Gale and his family. Had it not been for them, I am not sure what I'd be doing with myself at this moment. Not sure who else could have helped me pull myself back together. Not sure who else would have even cared.

Gale has his arm around my waist as we walk in our usual comfortable silence. Occasionally he leans his head down and plants kisses on the top of my head. He's so amazing and I can't believe he's mine. We arrive at the viewing and get checked in. Mabel spots us and starts to come over but Hazelle sees her and intercepts for me. I'm not sure what she says but she leans in and whispers something to which Mabel nods in response. Mabel looks over at me and sends a sad smile my way then turns and disappears into the crowd. I know she feels terrible that I'm upset. I know I was ugly to her. And I will eventually apologize but in this moment I just can't do it. I can't forgive her or my father right now. The best I can offer them in this moment is to ignore them.