Mosaic Broken Hearts -on hiatus-

Chapter 6

Katniss' POV

I feel someone shaking me, trying to wake me up. I'm curled up, hugging my knees to my chest, in bed. I have the sheets pulls up to my ears.

I open my eyes a bit, then see Dr. Aurelius. "Hey Katniss. How do you feel?" he asks softly. Tired. Sick. Lonely.

I don't answer, just close my eyes, and maybe that's enough to tell him. He pulls back both my eyelids and shines a light in them, then presses his hand against my forehead.

I skipped out on treatment yesterday, just staying in bed. "You need to see Peeta. He's the only one who can convince you to keep going, isn't he?" Dr. Aurelius asks. I nod. He sighs.

---

I wander the halls, not wanting to go to lunch. Surely they'll figure out I'm not there, you have to check in. That's how they keep track of who's eating their meals. I assume they're going to come find me soon since I haven't eaten lunch in a few days.

I take slow steps, staring at my shoes. Then I hear someone call my name. I look up, ready for a nurse to drag me to lunch. But it's not a nurse who called my name.

It was Peeta.

I stare for a few moments, before running as fast as I can to him. He opens his arms for me and I run into them. I put my arms around his neck. He kisses my head, then goes back to holding me.

"Peeta, oh my god. Peeta, you're here!" I mumble. I feel him nod.

"I'm here, I'm here." he whispers back.

We stand in the hallway, just holding each other, knowing that we need each other. I feel happy for the first time since I've gotten here.

Peeta convinces me to go to lunch. I hold onto Peeta's hand, not wanting to let go. The nurses in the cafeteria smile at us, happy for me. I can't stop smiling at him.

We sit together at an empty table in the corner. We eat our lunches, talking to each other the whole time. After we finish our main dish, Peeta throws a grape at me. I laugh and throw one back. He throws another, but I'm prepared for it. I catch it in my mouth, chewing it and swallowing it, smirking at Peeta. He laughs, then claps.

After lunch, we just walk around some more, until some nurses find us and tell us it's bedtime. All the nurses know who we are, even if they don't know my condition, and I'm sure they've heard about it anyways. The ones who've helped me while I've been here, smile at us, finally seeing me happy.

"I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Peeta whispers to me as we stand outside his door.

"Okay."

"Sleep well, Katniss." he says as he kisses my forehead.

"You too." Then he goes in his room. I walk back to mine, still smiling and feeling that fluttery feeling. I'm happy.

But happy doesn't stop my nightmares tonight. I wake up screaming and sobbing and flailing around on my bed. There's a few nurses collected in my room. They stand at a distance, just watching me. When I realize that they're not going to help me, I stop flailing and screaming.

At some point, I feel a pair of hands working to untangle me from my bed sheets. I get frustrated and start kicking the sheets off me, getting me tangled worse. A calm voice shushes me, putting their arm around my waist. I instantly know it's Peeta. I stop kicking, and just let him untangle me. He slowly picks me up, cradling me against his chest.

A few minutes after I don't calm down, I feel a pinch in my arm, then become drowsy. My crying slows. I look up at Peeta.

Maybe it was the haze of the medicine, or maybe it was actually what I felt, I'm not exactly sure. But I tilted my head forward and put my lips to his. He kissed me back, very gently. He didn't break the kiss when he laid me down on my bed. He pulled away to tuck me in under the sheets. I kept fighting the sedate, trying to stay awake. Peeta kisses my forehead, putting my hand into his. That's when I give in and let the sedate take me under.

---

Peeta leaves in the morning, after our long goodbye. Then the nurses take to me to treatment.

I try to keep a positive attitude for Peeta's sake, but it's hard. It's like telling a dog to meow, hard and basically impossible.

I go through two weeks before I get another letter from Peeta.

Dear Katniss,

How are you? Are you doing better?

I just want to know how you're doing and if you're okay. It's hard for me being away from you this long. I don't know if you feel that way too or not.

Do you know when you're coming back? I can't wait until you come back.

I miss you. Keep fighting.

- Peeta

I miss him. I really want to go home, but it's hard trying to pretend that you're okay when you're not. If I want to go home, I'm going to have to put on a brave face. I'm going to have to try and get better. And I'll try my hardest if it means coming back to Peeta.