The Strings To My Heart

11

Peeta's POV

I lay in my bed, staring at the beige hospital ceiling, counting the dots. It felt like years since I'd last seen sunlight. Or the people I loved. Or anyone really, for that matter.

I missed being outside. I missed my family and my friends. I missed Finnick and Annie and Prim and Effie and Haymitch and Roody and even Almond but most of all, I longed for Katniss. I longed for her soft touch, her fierce gray eyes, and her long, shiny dark hair. I longed for our conversations that stretched hours into the night, and the loving touches that followed. I longed for our cuddles and stories and-

Stop it, I told myself firmly. This will only make you feel worse.

So I gave up, wiped a tear from my cheek and resumed the counting of ceiling dots. 467, 468, 469, 470...

As I counted, I hummed a faint melody that had been playing in the back of my head since I got to the hospital. Looking back, I think it was a song that I had started to write, about Katniss, actually, and never finished. I sighed miserably. It's impossible that it was only two months ago... right?

But still, I kept humming, bringing the melody to life. Before long, I had almost an entire song recorded in my head. And it felt good. It felt good having something to do. Somewhere to vent. Some way to express myself. And best of all, it reminded me of Katniss.

I picked up my printed hospital report, flipped it over, and, using a nearly-dead ballpoint pen, scrawled:

"I used to believe in love;

One day it was all taken away.

It's hard to keep going at first;

But romance isn't a game.

I thought it was all a lie,

until I looked into your beautiful eyes.

They concealed all my fears;

I forgot about my tears,

And I knew you were the one for me.

You control the strings to my heart.

You are what keeps me going.

It wasn't until then that I thought it wasn't true.

But you hold the strings to my heart.

Then that day came and I wanted to stay,

Yet my heartache still came.

But you took it away.

You took it all away.

So just hold me close,

Never let me go and carry me away.

We'll wash it all away with this song,

And make it in this world.

To have and to hold, is all I need.

To never leave your side,

to stay with your soul and never part.

Our souls could part...but I'd follow you all the waaa-yy.

Don't let us fade awaaa-yy

When the time comes and we can be with each other,

Don't let this be out blunder