How did I end up here?

I hugged myself tightly as I watched Dr Aurelius sit across from me. He sat on an equally uncomfortable but professional looking chair. He, unlike me, sat straight, hands loosely clasped in his lap, his torso openly pointed in my direction. He wasn't behind the desk like I expected him to be. He didn't have a notebook either.

I pulled the sleeves of my knitted cardigan over my hands and fiddled with the loose strands of wool. I studied the pristine office trying to keep my anxiety at bay and not appear like the crazy person he would surely accuse me of being at the conclusion of the appointment. A slew of degrees and certificates speckled the beige walls, leaving a permanent reminder of the price tag that was attached to this very consultation. The desk was carved from what looked like mahogany and housed a sleek, black computer, four ball point pens and one folder on its shiny surface. I felt out of place, in my ragged jumper I'd recently thrifted. I turned my gaze back to the psychiatrist and settled my face into a scowl.

He'd given me the standard introduction and the confidentiality spiel but now we were quiet. Most probably due to my sullen temperament.

"You look unhappy, Katniss." He stated as if that wasn't the most obvious thing in the world.

"I don't need to be here." I mumbled.

He didn't frown, or scoff, or do anything really. "Then why are you here, Katniss?" He asked simply.

It was a good question and I didn't have a straight up answer. Not one I could fit into a single sentence anyway. I finally settled on, "Because Gale insisted I make this appointment. And I wanted him to get off my back."

I was starting to feel claustrophobic in the office and I willed myself not to get a panic attack. Deep breaths.

"Can you explain why he believes you need to see a psychiatrist?"

A million pieces of conversation ran through my head but I couldn't seem to voice any of them. My eyes pricked with tears.

"He said you were suffering from hallucinations." The doctor said, referencing the information from my intake.

My eyes flitted back to his and I felt angry. "That is not true. Gale doesn't know what he's talking about."

Dr Aurelius nodded his head in a frustratingly calm manner and simply pushed his glasses further up his nose. "Okay. So you don't believe you've had any hallucinations?"

"No. This is all a misunderstanding."

"Any lost time? Strange feelings? Seeing her hearing things that others can't?"

I knew exactly where he was going.

"No. I'm not psychotic. I can explain all of this."

He merely nodded. "I'm not saying you are. I just need to get as much information as possible to figure out how we proceed."

I sat wide eyed and tongue tied. I hadn't expected him to agree with me. I had been readying myself for an argument.

"But you're here for a reason, Katniss," he continued and I felt myself deflate slightly. "And I'd like to get to the bottom of why Gale thought it was necessary for you to have an appointment." He waited for me but I had nothing more to say. "Why don't we start from the beginning?"

I narrowed my eyes. "And where exactly would that be?"

"How about we start with the Island?"