Under the Willow

Chapter 6

Mom had promised that she would take care of me. Gale promised he would feed me. Everyone gave us their sympathies. But they were mostly lies. When we got home, mom just sat in her chair and stared out the door.
" Mom. Mom! Listen to me! Please!"
Tears brimmed her eyes, but she didn't respond. I changed my clothes into other worn ones, and feed Buttercup. " I have to go for a few days, but I'll be back." I said, and stroked his head. I left the house, and went to Gale's house. Choking back tears, I knocked on the door, and Mrs. Hawthorne opened the door.
" Honey, come inside." she said, motioning for me to come into their small house. I walked inside, and saw Rory, Gale's younger brother, had come to see me. " That was pretty brave of your sister."
" Yeah," I said and sat down on their cedar wood chair. Mrs. Hawthorne put a plate of stew for me, and I ate it all. She even gave me a worn pair of wool boots, which was extremely nice of her. " Well, that's all I can really do honey. I have to go wash some clothes. Will you be ok?" I nodded, and Mrs. Hawthorne left the room. Gale let me sleep in his bed, and right before I went to sleep, I saw him outside.

He was crying.

   I went outside and wrapped myself with the wool sweater I had. " Gale, she really cares for you. And I do too. You gave her hope, you gave me hope. She will win, Gale. But I don't think things will be the same." Gale looked up at me.
" What do you mean, Prim?"
" She's going to put up a show for the Capital, and they're going to like it."
He paused, and stroked my cheek gently.
" Katniss never said how wise you were Prim."
And that's when the anger boiled. Everyone thinks I'm the weak one. That I can't do anything. Suddenly, I was running, and all I could hear was Gale's muffled voice calling me to stop. I ran so far, I ran past the fence to the woods. I curled up near a tree trunk, and cried myself to sleep. When I woke up, I was shivering and my head hurt horribly. I could feel the warmth of me cradled in Gale's arms as he lifted me from the ground, but I fell into another slumber, and let the birds sing me to a soft sleep.