The Girl On Fire (undergoing editing)

1. Forever

20 years ago, the last hunger games ended.

20 years ago, Primrose Everdeen, my sister, was killed. 

20 years ago, I killed Coin.

20 years ago, President Snow was executed and Paylor became the new president. All of these memories are ones that I wish could blow away with the wind. All these experiences happened before my 18th birthday.

15 years ago, the first of my two children, Prue Everdeen and Cinna Mellark, were born. Prue is 15 -- we named her after Rue, my ally in the 74th hunger games, and Prim, my dead sister -- and Cinna is 12. I never would have had kids, I wouldn't have been able to handle it, if Peeta hadn't insisted. I'm glad he did.

District 12 is finally up and running again. Peeta has kindly given his house in Victor's Village to Greasy Sae until the kids grow up. She repays him by cooking us dinner every Sunday; I provide the meat, of course. Paylor has made hunting in the woods legal for me, so every Saturday I collect my bow and arrow -- The one that Boggs made me, though I've never had to use the explosive or fire arrows since the uprisings-- and spend the morning hunting. I've tried to teach Prue to hunt, she's eager to learn, but her aim is terrible. I shall teach her to her to set snare's instead, like Gale used to do.

Gale.

20 years ago, my best friend, Gale Hawthorne, left me for a fancy job. Peeta pretended to mourn with me but I knew he was secretly happy about it. 'She'll choose whoever she can't survive without.' He had said. Maybe that's why he left. Maybe he knew I wouldn't choose him. Maybe he knew it was Peeta I couldn't survive without. I never actually knew that myself until he was rescued from the Capitol and thought I was a muttation. That was one of the saddest moments of my life. I will not think about it any more. The past has gone, there's nothing I can do to change what happened, I just need to be more careful in the future. I am in the woods now. I can't decide what meat to have for dinner tonight. I think I'll try to get some deer. It's Peeta's favorite and we haven't had it in a while. I need to get some Katniss, too. I haven't had it since father died. A deer walks past, trying to hide itself in the ferns, I see it, though. I have my arrow loaded, ready to shoot, but a loud crunching noise comes from behind me. The deer runs away. I turn around and see Peeta behind me.

"That was supposed to be our dinner!" I shout "Do you know how long it's been since I've seen a deer around here?"

"I'm sorry." He says frantically "I just came to tell you that I'm going out to get a few bits. Our cupboard's are looking bare." I feel the blood running to my face and my nostrils flare.

"And this couldn't be put into a note and left on the table fore me because?!" I scream

"Katniss, You're scaring the animals away." I close my eyes and take a deep breath "And I had to let you know that the kids are with Haymitch. I didn't want you to panic when you got back." Haymitch? Is he deluded.

"You left the kids with Haymitch? drunk, unhygenic Haymitch? He can't even take care of Himself!" I sigh and shake my head.

"Whatever, just go." I say "But be home soon." He nods and turns around to go. I grab his hand and pull him in for a kiss.

"I still love you." I smile.

"Forever." He replies. And he's right. I love him forever. Nothing can change that.