Until The Mockingjay Sings

The Voice

Dook dook dook, three slow knocks echoed through my room. It had been about an hour since I had closed my eyes attempting to meet sleep. However, she did not want to join me tonight. I slowly rose up and walked towards the door in the dark. A thought rose in my head; could it be Peeta?

I reached out to the knob slowly and took a deep breath. The light from the hall blinded me for a couple of seconds as the door opened. When my eyes finally adjusted, I saw him standing there.

"Haymitch?" I asked, completely surprised and honestly a little disappointed.

"Hey Mila." There was a somber tone to his voice. "Umm, we just wanted to... wish you luck." In the hesitation of his voice, I understood what he actually meant. We just wanted to say goodbye.

However, that's when it processed in my head that he said we. I furrowed my eyebrows and looked further into the hall. Behind Haymitch, Effie stood looking down with her hands crossed. It felt odd seeing Effie without her usual confident attitude.

"I appreciate that. Thank you... both." Effie looked up at this, meeting my gaze. Her eyes were red and puffy. It was clear that she had been crying. The sight tugged at my heart and brought a familiar stinging feeling to the back of my eyes. I gave her a sheepish smile, trying to reassure her. "I promise that I will do my best."

Haymitch's mouth presses into a tight line. "Me too. I will get you sponsors, I promise." He had a look of stern determination.

"I can't bear this." Effie finally spoke up, her voice weak and scratchy. She stepped forward and was now standing in front of me. "You better make it out of there alive, do you hear me? Promise me you will come out alive." As I opened my mouth to respond, I remembered another promise I had made before.

I would make sure Peeta would see his family once more.

Instead of responding to her request, I threw my arms around Effie and hugged her tightly. "Thank you." She hugged me back and caressed my hair slowly. A warm feeling rose in my chest. I would miss her.

Both Haymitch and Effie said their goodbyes and left. I closed the door and became engulfed by the darkness of my room once more. My head was spinning, hurting. I felt my body slowly sink down to the floor, all my control over it gone. For the first time since the reaping, I truly felt hopeless. Starting tomorrow, I would begin the last days of my life and absolutely nothing I could do would change that. Hot tears began pouring down my cheeks. A dam had been broken and no matter how hard I tried, there was no way to stop the flow. That's when I thought of my mother and what she would do if she were here with me.

You're headed for heaven

My voice sounded broken and sheepish. Nothing like my mother's.

The sweet old hereafter

I moved my hands to my arms, holding myself in a tight embrace.

And I've got one foot in the door

It was nearly impossible to get the words out through my sobs. They came out as shaky whispers.

But before I can fly up

I shut my eyes tight and took a deep breath. I felt a cool breeze pass through my hair. The warmth of the sun shining down upon my face.

I've loose ends to tie up

My voice came out much clearer this time, joined by a familiar and perfect harmony.

Right here in the old therebefore

Her voice was just like I remembered it. Rich and full, but sweet like honey. The kind of voice that washed calmness over you. I felt the warmth of her hand brush my cheek.

"Keep flying, my beautiful songbird."

I opened my eyes only to be met with the darkness of my room. No sign of my mother, other than the ghost of her touch and the echo of her words in my head.

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Author's Note:
Hello everyone! Gosh it's been a while. Remember when I said I would start updating much more often and then proceeded to take a two month long hiatus? Yeah me neither ☺️

I am sorry for the wait and I hope you will accept my angst as an apology. I plan on updating much more often (for realsies this time). Hopefully at least once a week.

Thank you all so much <3