Life Goes On

Chapter 3 : If I Stay

Katniss P.O.V

I'm in the meadow. The beautiful wildflowers and dandelions cover the forest floor. Ahead is the lake. The lake my father taught me to swim in. The same lake he would take me and Prim to in the summer. I notice splashing and laughter. It's my father and and Prim. Prim looks so grown up and my father still looks young. She notices me and yells my name. "Katniss? Is that you? Come here and swim with us!"

"Come here my angel. I'm so proud of you for taking care of your mother and sister. I'm also so proud of what you've done for Panem. There are no more games because of your courage. You are definitely your father's daughter." "Dad, all those people are dead because of me. It's my fault that they..." "That they don't starve anymore? That they don't have to send their kids to reapings? You saved more lives than were lost. Now come swim with us."

I reach for his hand for him to lead me to the water. But his hand slips through mine. It's not real. He isn't real. Prim isn't real. "Katniss, honey, this is real. I'm really here and so is Prim. This is heaven. Rue and Finnick and Cinna are here too! And they're all waiting to see you."

Everyone I love is here. Of course I want to stay here. I've wanted to be dead for so long and now I can be. I just have to step into the water. But what about Peeta? What will happen to him? "Katniss is everything ok?" Prim asks me. "Peeta. He can't come here can he?" "Only the dead can live here." "️How will I know Peeta will be ok without me?" "I'll show you," Prim says and takes my hand.

We're in the Victor's Village. My house looks the same minus the fact that all the primroses out front are dead. I notice a grave in front among the primroses. "Katniss Everdeen. Beloved sister, daughter, soldier, hero, and lover," I read aloud. "In this world Katniss," Prim says "you're not the only one who's dead."

Peeta. He must have killed himself. I run to his house where I hear glass breaking. "Peeta! Peeta where are you!" "Katniss he can't hear us. We're dead." I notice a body covered in the floor. It's Haymitch. Peeta killed him.

"What have I done? What the hell have I done?!" Peeta screams. His episodes must have gotten out of hand. How can I move on knowing what happens to Peeta? "Katniss?" Peeta whispers. "I'm here Peeta! I'm right here!" I scream. "I wish you were still here. I know you are probably in heaven with your sister and father," Peeta says in between sobs, "I don't blame you for wanting to leave. It was my fault. I mistaken you for a murderer, when the real one was me."

"Would you like to see what the future holds if you stay, Katniss?" Prim asks me. "You can show me that?" I respond. "Yup!" She guides me to an open field in the meadow. There's a couple cuddling in the field of flowers. I notice a little girl running toward them and a little boy running after her. He's adorable running with his little chubby legs. "Mommy! Daddy! I found some primroses for you!" "Thank you, cupcake," says her dad. It's Peeta. Of course it's Peeta and his daughter. Mine and Peeta's daughter. She has his eyes and my hair. It goes almost down to her butt. Finally the little boy catches up. "Woah there buddy! You're learning to walk so fast now!" says the mom, me. I never wanted kids. Ever. Peeta tussles his blonde curly hair and future me braids the girl's hair into my signature braid. "Mummy and daddy I wanna go home." "Ok, Rye. Willow, are you ready to go, honey?" Peeta asks. "Yeah daddy. All that running made me tired," she replies.

I can't believe what the future holds. Why would I ever agree to have kids? "They're beautiful, Katniss. You're a better mom than ours was," Prim reassures me. "What if the games come back? I can't save them." "I'll be protecting them, so will dad and everyone else who loves you and them. Finnick is always watching little Finn. He's so handsome. You should catch up with Annie and Finn sometime."

"Ok," I say. "You wanna go back?" "Yeah. For you and dad. And Peeta too. He needs me and I know you and dad would want me to live," I tell Prim. "Then wake up!" "I love you Prim. I miss you so much. Everyday! And dad too!" I tell her. "I love and miss you too, my dear," my father says behind me. I run to him and hug him with such force he could barely breathe. "Promise to stay with me, dad?" "Always."

I squeeze my eyes shut then open them and see I'm staring at a hospital ceiling. Peeta is holding my hand. I can see the tear stains all over him and hear the sniffles coming from him. "Hey my dandelion in the spring," I say kinda jokingly. "Oh my god Katniss! I thought you were dead!" "How long have I been out?" "A week. You had a brace on, but you were out so long they took it off like a hour ago. We can go home soon. I'm so sorry, my love." "Peeta, I saw my dad and Prim. They were at the lake. Prim showed me the world if I left and if I stayed. Obviously I chose to stay." "What did you see in the world where you stayed?" "You will just have to wait and see."