I am so sorry, my fellow reviewers! I have never forgotten about you. This chapter is short, but I hope you still enjoy it. And forgive my absence. The holidays can be quite exhausting, and I am just now recuperating! Hope your holidays were amazing!

The tiny mirror is nothing like my old one. I can barely see anything as I braid my hair. It takes me twice as long as it would back in the Capitol. But that tiny mirror in this minuscule, window-less closet that is my room is my home now. Such is life in District 13.

As soon as I arrived with the others, Ian and I were separated. President Coin said something about how they needed to question him since he is a Peacekeeper. I don't think the President of District 13 likes me. She was sure to emphasize how I will not receive any special treatment, starting right then. I was forced into a bathroom to change out of my Capitol dress and given the normal attire of a long gray dress and gray shoes that are more like slippers. I was told to always wear my hair up, as it is such an odd color that it might make me stand out. I guess standing out in District 13 is bad. Everything is gray here.

At first, everyone stared at me. Of course they knew who I was, as much as President Coin tried to camouflage me. But nobody said anything. The only one who did was Katniss. She practically attacked me before Gale stepped in. Gale, I learned, was the young man in the hovercraft, waving us onwards. He seems to be a good man with a true heart but a little bit too much fire for revenge for me. I prefer a quiet life. I just wasn't expecting this quiet.

I literally don't have anybody anymore. Valeria is gone. Ian is missing; I haven't seen him since we arrived several weeks ago. I'm not even sure exactly how long we have been here. Each day comes and goes with nothing exciting or important and is quickly forgotten. I have nothing to do but follow the schedule given to all citizens every morning. It's basically eat, sleep, and walk around aimlessly all day for me. I asked if there was anything I could do to help, but President Coin informed me that my "skills of partying and playing dress up were not needed in District 13".

I'm scared we were too late on the rescue as well. Enobaria was unable to be brought out, and Peeta is a mess. His brain has been hijacked, poisoned with the venom of tracker jackers, his memories skewed. He now thinks Katniss is some sort of muttation and tries to kill her almost every chance he gets. Plutarch is around, but every time I see him he is always rushing around like he has much more important things to do.

My only hope comes from Finnick and Annie. Annie was one of those taken from the districts, but she was rescued successfully and Finnick has not let go of her hand since then. It's almost funny to me to see him so in love, but I finally realized that he was all along. Finnick was telling the truth all those times, but he had to hide his love for Annie to protect her. I feel a pang of guilt every time I see him for not believing him, but I am also happy. At least something good has come from all of this.

I am tortured by my loneliness and even catch myself missing the way things used to be. I didn't have many friends in the Capitol, but at least if you wanted to talk there was always someone who pretended to be interested. I was a woman of high stature, well-respected. If my days seemed boring there, they are nothing compared to this. I've never experienced such boredom.

I sigh heavily as I finish pinning the braid up at the back of my head. Maybe it's the mirror or the lighting, but I look much older. I lean in closer and push up my sagging cheeks. I've lost a lot of weight on the meager meals provided here. My skin has lost its luster and seems to be turning gray along with everything else. Even my bright red hair seems to be fading into ash.

I miss Valeria. I miss Ian. I miss my old life.