The Epilogue - Katniss and Peeta

Doors.

*Flynn's POV*

I don't remember Willow screaming at her dad, feeling betrayed as she watched him kiss another woman. I don't remember Rye asking why he would do this to his Mama.

The one thing I remember, is when he saw Willow's injuries and blamed me for them. I remember him yelling at me to take the attention off of himself, and I especially remember the words he used.

That wasn't Peeta.

Peeta knows I'd never hurt Willow. Peeta knows that I'd never hurt anyone.

The man who blamed me was selfish and only had good intentions for himself.

That wasn't Peeta.

_

I stand at the sink, looking out the window to my left and seeing that it's pitch black outside. I look at the lampposts outside, noticing the way the bugs swarm to the only light source.

I'm startled out of my thoughts by the sound of Peeta's voice, and I don't acknowledge him.

"I'm sorry, Flynn." He says quietly, standing next to me as I wash the few dishes in the sink.

"I've been doing so much to cover for your absence, and you repay me by accusing me of laying my hands on your daughter?" I remark, trying to take my frustration out on the dish instead of him.

"Flynn—" he starts, but I cut him off.

"You know I would never even think about touching her." I scrub at the dish, being hurt that he'd even assume a thing.

"I'll be home more often, I promise." He says, but I take his promise like a grain of salt. "I'm just trying to distract myself from the fact that my wife killed herself."

I try to bite my tongue—sympathy beginning to overtake me—but it's no use. The words that come out of my mouth are words that should've stayed in my mind.

"You're not the only one struggling, Peeta." I start, and I let my frustration overwhelm my mind. "I can barely get up in the morning, because I know I'll have to come over here and expect to find Katniss, knowing she's gone."

His eyes are glossy, and I notice the dark bags under the blue eyes that him and Willow share.

"And that being said, I'm most likely the one who's struggling the least." I say. "Willow and Rye lost their mother, and now they're losing their father, even though he's still alive."

"I am not who I was before all of this happened, and I'm sorry." He starts, running his hands through his hair. "I'm relearning everything I've ever known. I grew up with her, I matured with her, I won the fucking hunger games with her. All of that is burned into my mind, I can't just let go of all the memories I've made with her."

I stare at him, faltering at all of his words. I'm only 17. I'm too young to be having these conversations, I—

I shouldn't have to deal with this.

"I'm not asking you to forget her, Peeta." I remark, growing tired of everything. "I just need help. I can't do this all by myself—I just need you to help."

He looks at me before backing away, his hands falling to his side helplessly. He nears the front door, and I look back down at the pile of dishes.

"I'm sorry, Flynn." He apologizes, but continues speaking. "But, I'm trying as hard as I can, and if that's not enough then I don't know what is."

And then he walks out, leaving me alone in the dimly lit room. I let out a shaky sigh, and I can feel my hand tremble as I continue moving my hand back and forth against the white plate.