Complete

Chapter 16

WARNING! This chapter is sort of depressing. I know. I'm an awful person.

Katniss P.O.V.

"No."

"Katniss, come on."

"Peeta, please quit asking me," I say pleadingly as I look up at him. He takes a deep breath and kneels down beside of the chair I'm currently sitting in.

"Katniss, you haven't had anything to eat all day."

"I don't care," I tell him. "I'm not leaving this room until Mom wakes up."

When Peeta and I arrived here thirty minutes ago, Mom was already unresponsive, and has remained that way ever since.

"You're just using that as an excuse to be stubborn," Peeta tells me. "Come on, Katniss. I'm worried about you."

"I'm fine."

Peeta sighs and shakes his head at me. "You can say that all you want, Katniss. It doesn't make it true."

"Look, if you're hungry, you go eat," I tell him. "But I'm staying right here."

Peeta takes a deep breath and stands up. "I'm going to go call Haymitch and check on the kids."

"Okay," I say as I nod my head. Peeta kisses my forehead, and then leaves the room.

I make sure he's gone before I lean over closer to Mom.

"You've got to wake up," I say quietly. "There's something I need to tell you before…" I trail off and take a deep breath, fighting back the tears.

"But I guess it's better that I tell you now and just hope that you can hear me." I give myself a moment to compose myself before talking again.

"I forgave you a long time ago, but I want to make sure that you know that." I say quietly. "But that's not my main concern. I want to ask for your forgiveness too. I was awful yo you, and were trying so hard. I didn't know it at the time, but I now realize how easy it is to slip into depression when someone you love dies."

I look down at the floor and close my eyes. "I can feel myself already being pulled under, but I'm trying to stay strong for the sake of the kids."

"There's no need for you to apologize." Mom's voice startles me a little bit, and I look over to see her looking at me.

"How much of that did you hear?" I ask her.

She gives me a tired smile. "Enough. Katniss, there's no reason for you to ask for my forgiveness."

"I should have…"

"Katniss, stop," Mom says gently. "Let's not dwell on our regrets right now, okay? Because believe me, I have plenty of them, but now's not the time."

I nod my head and take a deep breath. I hear heavy footsteps coming towards the room, and I turn to see Peeta walk through the doorway. He smiles at me as he takes his seat again beside of me.

"How are they?" I ask him axiously.

"They're fine," Peeta says as he reaches over to take my hand in his. "Rye was crying for his Mommy, though."

I laugh a little bit. "Of course he was."

"Katniss, promise me something," Mom says. I look over at her and nod my head. "I know I've told you this before, but no matter what happens, you have to promise that you'll always be there for Willow and Rye."

"Of course I will, Mom," I say as tears form in my eyes. I can tell by the tone of her voice and the look on her face that this is the beginning of her goodbye.