I watch as Katniss and Haymitch descend the staircase, and I start to get emotional due to the past couple of days. The war is now over, but the war in my heart plays on. The spark that lights up my heart burns brighter than ever. They both look defeated, which is understandable with the revolution they were so heavily involved in. Katniss walks with a slight limp, and Haymitch has large circles under his eyes. Our team might not be in the best shape, but we still bid strong.
Katniss walks up to me and embraces me, with my new attire; not the horrid jumpsuits worn in 13. Emotion is sent through my body, soon making its way to my heart; like waves crashing onto the shore of a beach, but the only difference is that the beach is my soul. I fight back tears as I push her away from me to look into her eyes: "It's your job to take care of yourself now, Katniss." The urge to cry becomes stronger, but I know I must be strong. That is what Katniss needs; a strong escort to send her off, not a weak rebel. Strength has always been within her; however, every once and a while, she needs to be reminded.
"Promise me you'll find it." I say to her. She has been through too much loss and heartache to live a life that will soon be forgotten. She needs to find courage. She needs to be reminded that everything will be okay now that Snow died and Paylor took over.
She looks at me. I can tell she truly doesn't understand what I just said. My speculations are soon solidified when she says: "Find what?" After all she has been through: her father's death, the games, watching her sister get bombed right in front of her eyes, she deserves much more than a life of grief and sorrow: "The life of a victor."
Katniss immediately responds: "Bye Effie," and hugs me once again. She obviously does not want to be reminded of the pain and torture and having to win the games; even though she never really won. Nobody did. It was just a ploy from the Capitol to ensure that the citizens of Panem cooperate. Look at where that brought them. She steps aside to wait for Haymitch to take my place and escort her to her old home. To my surprise, Haymitch does not walk past and ignore me like he usually does. He steps right in from of me.
"Effie, don't be a stranger." He says, and kisses me on the cheek. I truly admire this man, even if he scolds me for wearing too high of heels or too much makeup. One thing that nobody gives him is credit. He won the games, just as Katniss and Peeta did. Even though he handled his struggles in an unruly manner, he deserves that same kind of respect and love that our star-crossed lovers get. We give each other a real goodbye kiss, and he walks away with Katniss. Looking at them now reminds me of the bygone days. The very first day of calling Prim's name at the Reaping. The very day where she called out to the nation her volunteering position. The moment she walked up on stage, with her hair pulled back into a braided bun. The day where we left in the train for the Capitol, with Cinna's beautiful Mockingjay dress awaiting. The night she twirled in that exact dress, and it went up in flames. The last day in the arena where she defied the Capitol by almost killing both herself and Peeta. The announcement of the Quarter Quell. The never ending tears that followed. The stress of Haymitch and I trying to get sponsors in trade for her survival. Johanna soon cutting out her tracker, which suggested future rebel activity. Katniss leading this revolution to a victorious end. Our Mockingjay with her mentor, walking side by side, still protecting each other.
This is when the tears start streaming down my face.
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Hayffie Stories - Oneshots (#Wattys2016) (Fanfiction)
FanfictionPassion, wit, heartbreak, and devotion all cleverly summarize the simple yet thought provoking concept of love. There are many sides of a single story, and a copious amount of stories to be told. The world is filled with many concepts including infa...