Everlark- Family, Love and Happy Ever After

Willow

Willow's POV

Eight years later...

It had been eight years since my Uncle passed, and yet I still feel him around me. He honestly did make the greatest impact upon my life in those sixteen years, and now at twenty-four years old, I felt it only right to let others know his untold story. The story of his hardships, his losses, but most of all, his inspiring wisdom. And so, that's why I'm writing 'Haymitch', the tale of the unforgettably iconic mentor- a drunk to many, but a hero to me.

Myself and Finn moved in with each other a couple of years back into a mansion on the coastline of District Four. It has six rooms, which means, for now, five guest rooms for when our family come to stay. It truly is beautiful out here, and the blue sea crashing against the shore somehow still manages to relax me- especially when I'm feeling homesick. We decided to stay here with Finn's mother, my 'Aunt' Annie, as nobody wanted to leave her all alone- but she's good as my second mother now, and whenever I miss my own she's there to comfort me. As is Finn.

Finn. My green eyed prince. My everything. It still doesn't feel real, the love we share, and each day I think I'm going wake up and it all be a dream. That's my biggest fear- being back in my sixteen year old self, alone, frightened and confused. But, I know that with Finn here beside me everything will be okay- he'll never let me go back to how I was before. The way I catch his glances every so often in the kitchen, or the way I feel his rough stubble tickle my back as he cuddle in bed, makes me feel whole. Knowing that I could love someone so much was alien to me.

As everyone expected, when we first moved in together that's when the nightmares started, each night for at least six months. It was the fear of something happening to my brothers and sister while I wasn't there that constantly worried me. But I learnt to live with the separation- and now they're less frequent...almost non-existent.

In these years of living with Finn, I've learnt a lot about him I never knew, I never knew he dreamt of his father, I never knew he dreamt of reliving the terrible things which happened to him. But I made the promise I would never let him go, and while he's with me he'll always be safe. Or so we thought.

There're riots starting in some other country on the Eastern side of the world, away from Panem. When Finn signed up to become a soldier, we never dreamt there'd be actual combat- yet the way things are going, he'll be sent off to fight within the next year. The worst part is, is that while he's over there, and I here, there's nothing I can do.

I hear Thomas is already over there, fighting. We stayed in touch over the years, however it became difficult when he had to stop his feelings for me. Our friendship came to an end for almost nine months, and I truly did feel lost- how could he just abandon our friendship because of my happiness? He finally came around though, and he actually married a petite blonde girl from another District last year. Their wedding was beautiful- Daisy looked so elegant in her white gown with laced detail, and her small baby bump peeping from her dress.

For now, we're living in the now, enjoying day after day being together. Both our mothers are pestering us for grandchildren as, and I quote, 'we're not getting any younger', so they say. We want to wait until we're settled down a little more before having a child, as I've learnt especially- children are hard work. But the day we finally do get engaged, I think that'll be a sign that we're ready to start our family together. I truthfully can't wait to have a miniature Finn running around the place, and padding in the beach as the waves cross over their tiny toddler ankles. The only part which terrifies me is the thought of losing it, like my mother lost little Chloe-Violet. Finn says it'll be okay- I just hope he's right.

I still miss my mother and father desperately, and as much as I hate to say it, I miss Rye, Oakley and Noah too. But, I have Finn. Finn who still makes my stomach convulse with butterflies every day. Finn who on the nights where I feel I can't go on, holds me until I'm better. Finn who I love. And Finn who I could not live without.