Finding the Missing Piece: Book 3

Chapter Thirty-Five

Katniss POV- (The next morning, about 1am)

I wake to excruciating menstrual pains.

I lay flat on my back with my legs upright, pushing down on my abdomen.

My body cringes and I squint my eyes closed.

I decide to get up and take some medicine.

I climb out of our bed, careful not to wake Peeta who is sleeping soundly.

All bundled up in the comforter.

I pad down the wooden, creaky stairs and go to the downstairs bathroom instead of using ours and waking Peeta.

I get into the medicine cabinet and find some medicine. I take two tablets from the bottle and replace it in the cabinet. I walk into the kitchen and have a glass of water, swallowing my pills too, hoping they will kick in fast.

I sit at the island for I don't know how long as the pain seems to worsen.

I have always believed that the worst pain you can feel is always the pain you're currently experiencing.

I decide that maybe I should try laying back down so I lay on the couch, not being able to find a comfortable position and the medicine seems to be taking it's sweet time.

I flip on the television, hoping that maybe some sort of entertainment will help me get my mind off of things but all that's on at three in the morning is infomercials.

Maybe if I go back to bed and quit moving around then it will help?

So I do.

I sneak up the stairs and crawl back into bed next to a sleeping Peeta Mellark.

I turn on my side so that I am facing him.

I think the only thing that distracts me is how cute he looks right now, all cuddled up to his pillow and the little pouted lip he's making.

I reach over, taking his warm, sweaty hand and I hold it against my chest.

I close my eyes and try not to wince at the pain but eventually, I fail.

"Ow." I call out involuntarily in pain, bundling over in a fetal position, far from where Peeta was lain.

I feel the bed shake as Peeta leaps awake with a gasp and frantically looks around the room, "Katniss. What's wrong?" He says frantically patting the bed in the dark of the night.

I hold my arm up and out to him, he finds me and takes my hand. "Katniss, what is wrong?" Peeta asks with a sigh of relief.

"Nothing, I'm sorry. Just go back to sleep." I say, biting my lip.

"Are you sick or did you have a nightmare or something?"

I groan, "No, it's embarrassing for me. Please, don't make me tell you." I whine, holding my stomach.

Peeta sighs, "Katniss, just tell me so I'm not worried. Please?" He asks, obviously getting frustrated with me.

I close my eyes and turn flat onto my back, making the pain start up again but worse.

"It's my period." I finally reveal.

"Katniss, you don't have to be embarrassed about that. Even if you hide it from me, I'm still aware it happens and I don't care. If you did tell me, I could try to do my best to help you feel better. Did you take any medicine for the pain?" Peeta asks me, concerned.

"Yeah, a little bit ago but it hasn't helped. I usually just lay here until the pains pass but I can't take it. I started a few days ago but it's been hurting badly today." I explain.