In Power We Trust - Haymitch Abernathy

Chapter Eleven - Day One

[TW: suicide, trauma
(skip to haymitch's section if needed)]

Amelie

"Dad! Dad!" The little girl giggled as her father swung her over his shoulder and moved around the living room. He set her down and placed his mining hat onto her head. It was much too big and left a ring of sut on her forehead. But she didn't seem to notice or care, she beamed up at her father.

"I love you pumpkin, you know that?"

"Dadddd" She whined, she was at the age where loving your parents was embarrassing, (even though she really really loved her parents).

"No come on now, I got to hear you say it." He said, picking her up and setting her on the couch, he kneeled in front of her.

The girl ignored her fathers wishes. "Why you got your boots on for Daddy? It's awfully late to be going out."

The man looked at her, his face softened but in a painful way, like she just said the saddest thing anyone could say. The little girl didn't pick up on this facial change. The little girl didn't know why her father was going out. The little girl didn't know her father hated his life. The little girl didn't know that was the last chance she'd ever get to say I love you to her father. I know this, because that little girl was me. That man was my father. I stood watching them.

"I got something I have to do." He said finally, in a whisper.
"Amelie!" Ma's voice called out from her bedroom, "time for bed come on now."

The little girl got up from the couch ready to go to bed but her father's hand grabbed her forearm lightly.

"Tell me you love me pumpkin, please?"

"Dad," she whined once more, "I got to go to bed."

The man's face turned down, he let out a deep sigh and pulled her into a side hug, "Alright Alright get onto bed now. I love you."

The girl quickly pulled out of his arms and walked around the corner to her room.

I still stood in the living room, watching the man who was once my father. He slowly stood from the place where he knelt, mining uniform still on. For a moment I could have sworn he saw me, that he looked into my eyes. But he fixed his eyes towards the door and walked straight through me.

He left, leaving the door open, like he was inviting me to come watch. I crept towards the door and watched as he made his way closer into town. I stayed close behind him, following him past houses, old shacks, and the school. I watched as he approached the peacekeeper patrol in the square. "Sir you are out past curfew! State your name and your b-"
Dad lunged at the man and hit the trigger into his abdomen.
There was a loud bang and I saw the man fall to the ground.

"What the hell" One of the peacekeepers blurted.
"Common," the tallest one mumbled, "we'll drag him into an alley or something after rounds."

The peacekeepers left him there. I approached him. He was still alive, struggling to breathe. I knelt beside his head, "Dad?" I felt hot tears run down my cheeks.
"Amelie."
"You- you can see me?" No way he can see me, it's a dream he can't see me, right?
"Amelie" he said, blood gurgling in his throat.
"What? what Dad what!" I screamed x