Under the Willow

Chapter 33

  Today was the day the true battle would begin. I had no time to do any fancy braids, so I did a simple French braid at the nap of my neck. Lidia and I had met up to eat a quick breakfast so I could say goodbye to Katniss. I had my work outfit on, since I was in the hospital. Mother said goodbye to Katniss, and then I got to say a special goodbye to her.
  " The next time we see each other, we'll be free. Be careful."

   Katniss hugged me, then left. I almost wanted to chase after her, begging her not to go. Yet I stayed still, and went back to our rooms. School and jobs for people under fifteen were dismissed, so I hung out with Rory, Ivy, and Lidia. We were all trying to occupy ourselves, but we all felt queasy. Suddenly, Mrs. Crook came into the room frantic.
" We need medics on a hovercraft in twenty minutes!"
   Rory, Ivy, Lidia, and I all nodded to each other. " We'll go." I said.
  " You have to be fourteen Prim. Sorry, I can't let you."
  A voice interrupted my on coming thoughts.
  " Let her go. She's one our best medics." Coin said.  " Here," she said, handing me boots.
" They will increase your agility."
I nodded her thanks, before running unto the hovercraft. But there was something I had to do. On the hovercraft, I made something for Katniss that just incase I didn't survive, Katniss could remember me by.

***
After the middle aged man finish his extremely long speech, I said my name to a guard and said goodbye to Rory and Lidia. For some reason, it seemed like a last goodbye.

Like I would never see them again.

Just as received my mockingjay, I pulled Ivy over. " Ivy, listen, if something happens to me, don't worry about me. I know you've never really liked me, so it shouldn't be so hard."
Ivy opened her mouth like she was going to say something, but closed it.
" I want you to give this to Katniss if something happens," I said, handing her the mockingjay pin. Ivy's eyes widened. " I coul-"

" Just do it!" I demanded, and ran out.
I shrill cry like a bird rose above the crowd of dying children. I knew the situation would be bad, but I never prepared myself for this..
Rory caught my arm, and swooped me into a quick kiss. " Be safe, my water lily."
I smiled. " You'll always be a piece of my heart."

I reached down to a crying girl in front of me, who was crying and halfway crushed under the barricade. She had a dislocated shoulder, but that wasn't the worst. I hadn't realized that she had a wound to a pressure point before, so it was too late. She would die soon. I wrapped my coat around her, trying to make her comfortable.
Until I heard Katniss's voice.

" Prim? Primrose?"

I looked up to see Katniss, who was barely recognizable. Her face was covered with ash, and her eyes were dull and wild.
Then, her face changed to pure terror.

" PRIM!"

And then I knew. These were the bombs that Gale had created, the ones we learned about in school. Terror had took control of my voice, so I managed to voice her name. Katniss's eyebrows raised a bit in understanding.
I managed to move my foot one little step, until a thick silver strap came over my shoes locked down unto the ground.
Coin...!

So this is it. This is the end of my life. I closed my eyes and felt the silver heart against my chest. I felt a warm feeling. And I finally figured what it was. Love.
I love you. I whispered in my head.
And then at the snap of someone's fingers, I'm dead. I felt my organs explode, but only for half a second. Then, I'm nothing more than a patch of ash.

The strange thing is, I woke up.