Lily Juniper Abernathy: The daughter of an alcoholic victor (book 1)

Understanding my farther

My perception of my mother was that she was fussy, dramatic, and a control freak: which she was. She was born and raised in the Capitol- the place that, according to my History teacher, instigated the Hunger games. It was basically a TV show where kids got killed and only one survived. My dad was one of these survivors which was why he had an alcohol problem. My mother played her part in the games being District 12's Tribute escort. She never liked it there and always pines for home. I suppose I am like her in the way I long to return to district 12- I don't fit in with the Capitol. My mother's side of the family especially. I don't like them and they certainly hate me to no end. My mother loves me, I don't doubt that- I just know I annoy her and she makes sure I know that too.

I hear Finnick helping my dad to the bathroom to vomit and head through to the living room.

"Dad, try keep your head up." I say gently holding his head up against my chest as I nudge the bathroom door open with my hip. Long story short, he doesn't make it to the toilet. His vomit spews all the way down my ragged old shirt. It may be old but I actually like this shirt. I sigh and still take him over to the toilet "Stay there dad."

I don't even think he's realised he's vomited on me.

"How much have you drank today?" I say sternly, wiping my shirt

"None of your concern sweetheart."

"You're my dad- of course it's my concern!" I snap

I knew why he drank but that didn't mean I approved of it. The last time my mother recalls him being sober was at my birth, but that didn't last long after I was born and, my mother was in labour for four days so I guess he had chance to sober up before my arrival into the world.

"You two leave me- just go to bed."

"Right?" I agree seeing no sense in arguing since he probably won't remember anyway.

"Night Haymitch?" Finnick says unsurely, seeing the look on my face. He covers my dad up with a warm bath towel and follows me out.

"Sometimes his drinking gets on my nerves." I growl

"I know but, you can understand why he does."

I nodded "Sometimes he still cries about his mom- only sometimes though."

Finnick nodded "My mom mutters about my dad sometimes on my birthday."

"Anyway," I yawned "I'm going to bed."

"Right- I need to go get my mom from President Paylor's house-" As he opened the door he grinned slyly "I now know why your dad didn't show up."

"Go away Finnick." I growl

He comes back in and hugs me "Sorry, I'll see you soon."

"HEY YOU!" My dad slurs, staggering into the room "GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DAUGH-" He hits the floor unconscious. I roll my eyes and Finnick chuckles adding gently "Bye Lily?"

"See ya." I reply closing the door. I go into my sickly lime green coloured room coated in it's flowery gush and peel my vomit- soaked shirt off me. I suppose my mother and I will have a debate on whether I should throw it out or not later. I force myself to go into the chest of drawers and pull out a magenta night shirt, covered in floral gold embroidery. It'll have to do since I don't fancy starting doing my washing at this time of night. I crawl into bed and attempt to sleep.

I wake a few hours later, bolt upright and screaming. I had been having night terrors since I was a child- nightmares I had never grown out of. My dad runs in: my mom thinks it's weird how my screaming sobers him completely. He dives into the bed and puts his arms around me to stop me from thrashing around and strokes my hair.

"It's okay Lil, you're alright."

"Uh-huh." I whisper clinging to him

"Come on sweetheart," He mumbles kissing the top of my head "You're okay."

He slides back into the pillows meaning I slide with him until I'm led down. he slips the covers over us both and I mumble "Night dad?"

"Night sweetheart." He murmurers