What if?- A Mockingjay Story

Chapter 6

Katniss POV
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What if? What if this is going to change everything? What if the contents of this envelope are about to reverse all that has happened? What if this was just some big mistake? A misunderstanding? But what if it's not? What if this is all the things I'm being supplied with to care for the child? What if this is just something I am going to have to live with? What if.......
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I open the envelope slowly and open the piece of paper inside, much longer than the other one. I read it slowly:

Dear Katniss,
I'd say by now you have officially panicked telling yourself you can't do this. You can. You can do this. That is why I chose you. You may be wondering why you just received six free packages. This is something that will happen every six months. I will send you a supply of clothes, diapers etc. Every week I will send you baby food. This will all be paid for. It is the least I can do. I know this all is a lot to take in but I need you to do this for me. And I know how you would react to this situation. I know you are probably pushing everyone away who tries to see you. I knew this would be the case. I also know that you can't let yourself beak away from the world. There is people who love you and you can't let them leave your life. You'll regret it, trust me. Mind my little girl...

And then the letter is ended with a blank where there should be a signature. I find myself scanning the paper for something that could give me an idea of what the persons identity is. But there is no trace of any information. I throw the letter onto the counter and collapse onto my knees on the cold tiles. I Close my hands over my ears and bite hard on my lip to resist the urge inside me to scream and cry. I spend five minutes doing this until I have cleared my mind to a certain extent. I then rise to my feet, take a deep breath and go to check on Sophie. I find her peacefully sleeping in her basket, clutching her blanket with her small hands. I can't help but smile at her. I then go back into the kitchen and begin to unpack the boxes. Soon enough I have everything opened. The food and medicine has been stuffed into the cupboards with difficulty but they eventually fit in, the clothes and diapers have been kept in their boxes while I wait for the time to assemble the units where they are to be kept and I'm on the floor of the kitchen trying to figure out how to assemble a stupid cot. I have never been the best at these things, the only thing I managed to assemble is the highchair which was as easy making a jigsaw puzzle. I have been trying to hammer some parts together like the instructions say but my several attempts have failed miserably. In the end I fling the hammer across the floor in frustration. I then hear Sophie crying in the living room. I sigh. Great, just great. I pull myself up and go into the living room, lifting her gently into my arms. I sit her up while her head lies on my shoulder, nuzzling further into my shirt every now and then. I say to her

"Did I wake you?"

She then starts to cry extremely loudly. I spend about ten minutes rocking her back and forth with no success of her stopping. I change her clothes into a new little baby suit and change her diaper. I then notice that she is biting her fingers and I know instantly she's hungry. I lift the basket into the kitchen and sit it on the counter. I sit her in the basket and wipe her tears and tell her softly

"It's okay. I'm getting you something to eat"

I then realise how I wasted my time setting up the highchair as she is much too young to use it. I sigh as I reach into the cupboards and find something for her to eat. Eventually I settle for baby porridge as it is only 11:30 am. I spoon feed her and she is done it quickly. I then make some baby milk with a special powder which by the looks of its container came all the way from the capitol. I make three bottles and put two in the fridge before going to feed her. I hold her in my arms while she slowly drinks it. One of her hands tightly clutches my finger as she does as if she thinks I'm going to leave her. Maybe she does after all that must have happened to her. Maybe she's afraid of losing someone else. That's where this whole situation weakens me. Knowing I'm her last hope, knowing I can't give up. Once she is done I lift the basket onto an armchair in the corner of the kitchen where I can keep an eye on Sophie and keep her away from the hammer and that. I give her the small teddy that the note was once attached to and see her face instantly light up as she stares with her big green eyes at the teddy. I then get back to working on the cot. Once again I end up pushing away the hammer after many failures. I hear Sophie laugh softly. I stand up sweating, lean over her basket and give her smile before saying

"You're kidding right? It's not easy you know"

I tickle her neck which causes her to smile again. I pick her up in my arms and look down at the mess I've made. Instructions falling apart on the floor, screws everywhere and a hammer flung across the floor. I say to her

"This is certainly going to take a while"

And just as the words have left my mouth I hear the window in the hallway break and shards of glass fall to the floor.