The hunger games continued

Chapter 16- the ceremony

We sit in the front row, so we can see everything, lots of people stand up to say something, but the one that sticks in my head was moms, she was speaking for her and dad, but it was beautiful, "today I would like to talk about how good Haymitch was to both me and Peeta, when Peeta and I where in the games, Haymitch was basically the reason that our whole family is here today, without him, neither of us would have survived, and I just wish I could have told him that, and I hope he knows that I love him, and so does my family, I am forever grateful to him, and I will never be able to repay him for that, I should probably finish up now, so the last thing I'm going to say is thank you Haymitch, and I love you, I'll never forget you" she's crying now, her face contorted by fear and sadness, she covers her mouth as she walks away from the podium with closed eyes, she stops at the coffin now closed and piled high with flowers, she leans down and places a flower and a small kiss on top of it, then takes her seat, dad gives her a kiss and puts his arm around her, after the ceremony we all gather out the front of the church, people tell us that they are sorry for our loss, but they really have now idea what we are feeling, cups of tea and baked goods are passed around, and I am offered several times a slice of cake or a cup of tea, but they don't understand, I'm not hungry, how could I be? tomorrow is the reaping and one of the most important people of my life is dead, I'm not hungry.

-

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, in able to sleep, after several hours of tossing and turning I have finally given up, "Forest, can I sleep in your bed tonight?" I look up and see Sonny standing in my doorway, looking like a ghost in her long white night dress, "yeah" I say, smiling in the dark, I hold my arms out and she crawls into them, "I'm scared Forest" she whispers, "me too" I whisper back, we cuddle for ages, and eventually I fall into a tormented sleep, haunted by the previous games and what might happen this year, and Haymitch who's kind face now scares me.