*HUGE DISCLAIMER* I WROTE THIS WHEN I WAS 12YRS OLD, SO EXCUSE GRAMMAR AND CRINGINESS
What if.....?
Katniss has finally returned to District 12 both haunted and shattered by the past knowing the peace gained does not supply her with security and ha...
What if this is all a joke? What if her mother doesn't show up? What if Sophie refuses to go? What if Sophie doesn't want to leave? What if I never want her to leave? What if this is reality and I need to accept it? What if reality isn't what I hoped for? What if reality is never what anyone hoped for?
What if? What if? What if...
---
Effie and Haymitch hug Sophie tight between them, a similar look of sadness spread across both their faces. Once they release from their grasp Sophie looks generally confused, smiling but showing that childish face indicating she has no idea what's going on with all the sudden goodbyes. Peeta said she acted similar on the last day at the bakery. As Effie and Haymitch stand, I offer to walk them out. Effie pushes the triplets in their pram out the door as Haymitch slows to my pace, walking by my side. He says to me
"4 years huh?"
He stops at the doorway and turns to me as I reply
"Yeah... Thank you Haymitch. For being there for us"
He gives a small smile and pulls me in for a hug, patting my back before pulling away once more and looking out at Effie who waits at the bottom of the steps with the triplets. He says
"Good luck sweetheart"
He pats my shoulder before walking down the steps, hands shoved in his pockets before he takes the pram from Effie. As he does so Effie looks up to me and says
"Good luck Katniss darling..."
She waves, her face is crossed by a smile of pity and sadness. I wave back before walking inside and shutting the door. I immediately walk upstairs knowing that I need to break away from all of this for a minute, I can't run but at least I can pull myself away for a moment. All of this is an overload in my brain, it feels like the end of a story but also the beginning of a new one for us all.
"What you doing?"
Sophie asks a few hours later, walking into her room with her bear clutched in hand as she watches Peeta and I fill boxes with confusion. Peeta sends me a look across the room and I nod. I feel a huge weight drop on my chest as I stand, my breath becoming tight and my heart thumping loud in my ears. I take her hand and lead her over to the bed, sitting down beside her on the bare mattress. I take a deep breath and open my mouth to speak but before I can even form any words I am interrupted by the ring of the doorbell. Immediately Peeta and I are at our feet, my heart pace speeding as I check my watch. It's not time, but could it be her parents? I call as we both make our way quickly down the stairs
"Sophie wait!"
But she's already opened the door. And to my relief its not her parents but simply Gracie, standing at the door with a large white box. She steps in and hands it to Peeta, she looks flustered and sweaty. He thanks her, giving her a quick hug before walking into the kitchen, box in hand. Gracie says goodbye to Sophie, grasping her tight before eventually letting go and standing. She says to me sympathetically
"Good Luck today"
"Thank you"
After that she just gives Peeta and I a simple nod before walking out again. Sophie spends the next hour playing while we sit on the couch, watching her and soaking in every last memory of her. Because its heartbreaking to think that tomorrow I'm going to wake up and her room will be empty, and I will sit on this couch tomorrow and she won't be in this house. Peeta asks me
"Will we do the birthday cake? It may make us feel a bit better, make one last memory?"
I nod so we take Sophie with us into the kitchen and together we make our final memory. Our camcorder films as Peeta holds the cake before the gleaming Sophie who claps her hands and squeals with joy as she sits in my arms, waiting anxiously until its time to blow out the candles, the final time she will ever blow out her candles in this house. But I know as I watch the beaming smile on her face that no matter what happens or where she is these memories will always stay with me. These memories will last forever in our hearts.
5 minutes, 5 minutes until the moment I've waited for for 4 years occurs. We sit at the table, Sophie still eating cake. Peeta asks me, his voice wavering
"Should we give her her gift? Before they come?"
I nod and Peeta calls her over, pulling her onto her lap and placing a kiss on her head as I had her the thin box. She gasps and pulls off the wrapping to reveal the necklace
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She puts her small fingers on the silver, a small enchanting smile spreading across her face. I ask her softly, feeling tears welling up in my eyes as I hear the time counting down at the back of my mind
"Will I put it on?"
She nods. I see Peeta eyes also filling up with tears out of the corner of my eye as I take the locket from the box. I tell her, holding the locket on my palm
"The mockingjay charm is to represent strength because your so brave. The flower is because you love gardening..."
I open the locket and show her the three pictures inside
"And these are pictures of us, so you always remember we are here for you. That we are family and we love you"
As I put it around her neck her bright green eyes lock with mine and I see her realise deep in her mind that she is going. As soon as I have the clasp on she jumps into my arms, locking them around my neck. She says
"I love you"
And once again my eyes are filled with tears, burning as I grasp her tight and once again I have that familiar feeling of never wanting to let go, dreading letting go.I reply
"I love you too"
Peeta wraps his arms around the both of us and together we are enclosed in a circle of sadness and love. This was indeed our last true memory because only minutes later is there a knock on the door. We walk to the door, Sophie in my arms as Peeta's hand locks between us. Time is up. Both of us have a tight grip as Peeta opens the door. And once it is fully open it as if time is frozen as within a second everything sinks in. Sophie's parents...
