Katniss's POV

Its been two days. Two days in this empty house and I already feel like im going crazy. My only company has been buttercup, who hasn't left my side. I think he knows that shes gone. Its somewhat comforting to have someone to grieve with. Peeta has only tried to call once. Im grateful for that.

A meow from buttercup tells me hes hungry. Im finding it harder and harder to get out of bed each day.

With a sigh I swing my feet over the side and trudge downstairs. I grab the scoop and place the brown food in his bowl. He happily gobbles it up, which makes me realize I haven't eaten since I returned 'home'. I stare at the fridge, however, I feel like I would throw up if I ate anything.

I decide on a change of scenery and plop down on the little sofa in the living room.

I stare out the dusty window that overlooks the street. I hear sounds of giggling children as two girls jump rope while chewing bubble gum. I stare at them for a moment before all my insides squeeze together as thousands of emotions fill me. She should be out there chewing sickly sweet bubble gum and jumping rope. But shes not. Because of me. Because I couldn't stop him.

I jump up from the couch, the fastest I've moved in a long time, and whip all the curtains closed. The sudden movement makes my head dizzy. I suddenly notice my breathing is hard and rapid. I fall back onto the couch. I feel so empty. Like all the life has been sucked out of me, leaving nothing but a corpse to walk the earth, with no purpose left.

~~~~PEETAS POV~~~~~

I've been working every day. No breaks, morning and night shifts. Its all I can do to keep my mind off Katniss. When im not working (which isn't very often) im running or at the gym. It hurts a bit less when you have a different kind of pain to focus on.

I tried painting. Everything I did reminded me of her. I tried to paint flowers; they reminded me of how her hair smells.

"Peeta, honey" my mother suddenly snaps me out of my day dreaming. Shes using her sweet voice, the voice she uses in front of customers. She probably wants to snap my neck in reality.

"Oh, uh, yes" I say and walk towards her and a customer.

"This Lady would like a loaf of cinnamon bread. Were out of it up here. Could you please go and grab one from the back?".

I wonder if the customer can hear the bitter edge in her voice like I can. I simply nod and give a smile before rushing into the back to find a cinnamon loaf.

That night, I lay restless on my bed, staring at the white ceiling. Its 12:30. I feel like I will scream if I keep laying here. I jump up and pull on a sweater before running downstairs and practically exploding through the front door. The fresh air fills my lungs and I instantly feel better. My feet start moving and I don't know where they're going until I find myself walking into the Seam. My feet won't stop until I reach her house.

My throat becomes dry as I stare at the old house. All the lights are turned on and trying desperately to crawl out the curtain covered windows.

Weird. Its not like Katniss to waste power like that. A thousand worries fill my already crammed mind.

I rush up to the door and hesitate for a moment before my fist makes contact with the wooden door. Im shocked when the door swings open after the first nock on the door.

I poke my head inside.

"Katniss?" I say quietly, scared that if I speak too loud the whole house might crumble it looks so fragile. I take a step inside and gently close the door, which doesn't prevent it from whining and squealing the whole way.

I make my way towards the stairs, calling out "Katniss" every couple steps.

Once I reach the stairs and still hear nothing, I dont bother being quite as I bolt up them. When I reach the top Im shocked at all the broken pictures and picture frames that line the hallway. All the pictures have something in common. Its either of Annie, Johanna, Finnick, or me.

I try my best to push the thoughts away as I approach Katniss's room.

The silence is so loud it scares me.

Suddenly, a long sad meow breaks through the silence, startling me. Buttercup sashes through the little crack in Katniss's door. I crouch down into a spider man stance and give him a little pat before he hisses at me and runs back into Katniss's room. I stand back up and quietly call out "Katniss".

No response.

I take a step forward and push through her door. Empty. Shes not in here. Im about to leave when I hear another long and pathetic meow from buttercup. I walk around to the other side of the bed, letting out a gasp when I see whats waiting for me. I drop to the floor and start screaming her name, panic filling my insides when all she does is lie there, her icy skin sucking all the heat out of me.

I scoop her frozen, fragile body into my arms. Shes not dead. She can't be. No. No. No. No no no.

I press my head to her chest, desperately searching for a heart beat. I let out a sob when all I hear is silence.

No. No.no.

Please God no.

And then it happens. A miracle. My second chance.

But most importantly, a heart beat. So silent, so hidden, if I wasn't pressed up to her I would have missed it completely.

"Katniss!" I gasp happily.

A weak cough escapes her blue lips. Her eyes crack open slowly but pop open when she sees me. She jumps off my lap, obviously shocked to see me.

"You need to eat something, you're starving yourself " I say calmly.

"What are you doing here?" She asks, her voice thin and wispy. Its obviously causing her pain to talk.

"Wait here". I run downstairs and fill a cup up with water and grab a banana.

I come back up to see her quickly wiping tears away, trying to hide them from me.

I decide to not say anything about it and just hand her the water. Shes hesitant but as soon as the water touches her cracked lips she begins guzzling it.

Once she finishs the water I hand her a banana.

"Eat slowly, ill go make tea".

The kettle gives a startling whistle signing its ready. I pour the steaming water over the tea bag and bring the steaming beverage upstairs. She looks thankful as she wraps her cold fingers around the mug.

We sit in silence until shes almost done her mug.

"Thank you".

Its almost so faint I barley heard it.

"Katniss, you don't have to thank me".

"You've been so kind to me and I have troubles even remembering your name" she confesses.

I reach forward and tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"Anything for you" I say 100% truthfully. I can tell shes some what uncomfortable so I take a step back.

"If you dont mind, I think im going to have a nap now". Katniss says before placing her mug down.

I nod. "Of course".

And then I stand up and walk out of her life. Again.