Fire is Raging On (A Hunger Games Fanfic) [#Wattys 2016]

Chapter Two

Gale's POV

Dear Gale,

I know you didn't mean for Prim to go to help the children that day but I can't help but feel like you should have known she would have gone. She was Prim and you didn't even try to make her stay with you. Why didn't you make her stay? I made you promise to take care of them, but somehow you didn't? I begged you to take care of them when I left for the games, but I guess you didn't realize what I do. Those games never ended, every single thing that happened, every bomb, but I talked to Beetee, he told me the truth.

Gale, you ran away as soon as you did something wrong but the truth is, maybe you've been doing something wrong this entire time. Those kids, Prim, all that blood was the same. I miss you so very much, but I don't miss what you became. Those were the games, all of that killing and you would have won them.

You broke your promise, Gale, you were supposed to keep them safe. I don't know what you're up to, I haven't seen you all, but you can come see my child, and whatever future children I have, whenever you like. Please don't take it personally I chose Peeta, I try to explain it, but it doesn't make sense. It's painful, I've tried writing this letter so many times, but I just couldn't. Gale, you're on fire when you get angry, but I have had too much fire for a lifetime.

I'll always be your old hunting partner,

Katniss

I set the letter down on the table. At least she doesn't hate me. Why do I need to remind myself of this almost everyday? She doesn't completely hate me. I know that. She's just disappointed in me. She's angry with me. I broke a promise to her. I broke one of the most important promises I ever made to her. She probably won't trust me like she used to before. I can't blame her. If our roles were reversed I would be disappointed and angry with her. Prim was like a baby sister to me. I loved her like one. You're supposed to protect family, and I failed in this case. I failed to protect my family.

"What are you reading?" Madge asks, as she comes up beside me.

"Just a letter from a few months ago," I reply.

"It looks like you've read it quite a bit," she continues. I know she's curious, even if she doesn't want to admit it.

The truth is I have read Katniss's letter quite a bit, probably more than quite a bit. I've read it at least once a day, if not more, since I found it sitting in my mailbox in District 2. That was the day I also received the invitation to their wedding. The letter was tucked in behind the card, folded neatly and carefully. That was the day I decided I was moving back to District 12. It took two months to get everything settled for me to come back, but I can't stand being away from her. I needed to be able to see her on a regular basis, if not a daily basis. I have another reason to stay in 12 now. I have Madge as patient and kind she is with me.

I fold the letter back up so the words are hidden. The creases where the letter folds are worn like a too fast of movement will just rip the letter to shreds. There are crinkles in the page from the many times I've held in between my hands.

"What's the letter about?" Madge asks when I don't say anything for a few minutes.

"It's just from a friend. It's the one thing I have left from them," I say in a quiet voice.

My voice is hoarse. I need a drink of water. I put the letter in my pocket, before heading to the tap. The letter stays with me everywhere I go. If Katniss ends up hating me then I will at least have this from here. A single reminder of my best friend. The first one who truly understood me.

"Is everything okay, Gale," Madge asks from where she still stands by the counter.

I take a long drink and swallow hard. She's your girlfriend, Gale; she has a right to know. "The letter. It's a letter from Katniss from before her wedding."