"Daddy?" I said as I came down the stairs. He was taking off his shoes.
"Ivy!" Dad said when he saw me. "Come here" he said as he extended his arms. I ran over to hug him and he stroked my back, asking how I was doing.
"I'm okay. A lot better actually. I'm sorry I woke you last night" I told him.
"Oh, Ivy. Don't apologize." He put his hand on his back and led me to the couch, where we both sat down. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"Um, yes actually. I want to talk about a few things." I said hesitantly.
"What is it? Go ahead, I'll always be listening."
"So my dream last night. I guess I'll start there. You and Momma were in the Games, and I was watching. And you guys were running from something, and then you stopped you made it somewhere And you thought you were safe." Now Mom, who was listening from the kitchen, came into the room. I looked at her and back and Dad, and tears started to well in my eyes. My voice began to shake. "And I thought- I thought you were safe. But then, then this tree-" I felt a tear slide down my cheek. Dad started to rub my back, and both of them were making eye contact with me. I took a big breath.
"A tree. It started falling. And you guys didn't realize and had- you had this look on your face. Of, of relief. You thought it was over, and it wasn't. And then," I sniffled, thinking of what happened next. "And then it crushed you both. And you guys died. You died, okay?"
I leaned into Dad. He circled his arms around me and said "Ivy, we're not. We're right here and will never leave you. We got out of the Games, and ended it for good. For you guys. Now it's over."
I shook my head. "No, it's not! It's not over, because Gale is here. And you guys lied to me about what happened, and now what? And who knows what's going on in his head? Why is he even here? Are you really just going to leave me in the dark like that, again? Are you really just going to leave yourselves in the dark again? It's not over!"
Dad was giving me a steady look, trying to figure me out. He looked to Mom. Mom came around the couch and said "Well, Ivy. What do you want us to do?"
"I want to meet Gale." I said, determined.
Mom and Dad looked at each other for a good ten seconds. "What?" I asked. My tears were drying up now.
Dad furrowed his eyebrows at Mom and pointed his head toward me. "What?" I demanded.
Mom sighed and closed her eyes. "Listen Ivy. This is hard for all of us. And Pane needs to be apart of this too. Can we put a pin in this until tomorrow? Can you do that for me honey?" she asked.
I looked at her and then at Dad. Nothing ever changes Mom's mind. "Fine." I said looking at her. "We'll talk about it tomorrow I guess." I got up and started to go back to my room.
I turned when I realized something. "Oh, I forgot to tell you guy something huge." I said to my parents.
They looked concerned and Mom said "What is it, Ivy?"
"Could Dad maybe attach the door back to my room?"
They got a look of relief on their face and I laughed. "Sure, I could do that." Dad said.