"You don't have to be sorry. She was never going to make it and even if she did, I would've lost her anyway. I'm glad you're here. Congratulations on your victory and thank you for keeping your promise."

"Thank you, sir. I miss her too, you know. I'm not saying our loss is in any way comparable. I just wanted to let you know. I just wish she wasn't reaped."

"You're allowed to be sad without feeling bad about it; I'm not the only one who cared about her, she was important to other people too. You don't have to be sorry about winning. Someone had to and I'm glad it was you, kid."

I nod, showing that I understood. The fact that he called me a kid, just like Mags does, only reminds me that this is all I am: a broken child that had to grow up way too fast. I'm still looking at the ground; I don't have the courage to look at him in the eyes. We both stay like this for a few minutes without saying one more word.

"Well, I think I'm going to go. I'm sure there are people who you can't wait to see again."

He leaves the room and I find myself alone once again; I feel like this happens a lot. I look around and decide to sit on the black couch; it looks comfortable and I'm tired. I haven't slept since we left the Capitol. It was way easier to close my eyes for the night back there when medication was forcing me to do so.

"Finnick!"

I don't even have time to get up from the couch that I'm already trapped in my mom's arm. I don't hesitate to return her hug. Her tears of happiness fall all over my head. She's petting my hair like she used to do when I was younger and needed comforting. Maybe I still need it today and she knows it. After what feels like an eternity, she releases me, still crying. My father quickly replaces her. We stay like this for quite a long time. When he steps back, I can see in his eyes that he's proud of me. Maybe not proud, but definitely not disappointed at least.

"Let's get out; people are waiting for you." he says in his usual deep, calming voice.

"Mags said she'd be there by the time I'd be ready to get out. Where is she?"

"I don't know, Finnick. She was surely caught up in something. She mentored the victor; she's probably busy doing some important official stuff. Don't worry about it. We are practically her neighboors now, you'll see her soon."

"Okay then; let's head out." I answer, trying to hide my concerns so they don't get worried.

🔱

I'm looking out of my new bedroom's window at Mags' home in the Victor's village. The house is silent; my parents have been asleep for a long time already. While we were celebrating, some people moved all of our belongings inside of the new house, but it still feels empty. I'm just glad Cyprian's family now live in our old one; it's bigger than where they used to live so they were really grateful when we told them they could move out. I had a hard time sharing their excitement at first. It just felt weird to leave the place I lived in for my entire life. Well, that isn't exactly true. I lived somewhere else for almost three weeks too.

The big clock downstairs announces that it's two in the morning already by making two loud dings. Mags still hasn't come home yet and I'm starting to get extremely worried. As I'm about to get up from the cushioned bench to go back to the justice building, I see someone approaching in the distance. I hold my breath, hoping that it's my mentor coming home. It feels like time is stretching and I'm getting impatient, but I don't want to go outside to meet that person in case it's not her so I just wait. I don't know who else it could be since every other victor are already in their beds and have been for the past few hours. If it's Mags, she's going to have to pass in front of my house to reach hers, so I will know without a doubt. I keep my eyes locked on the silhouette that the darkness of the cloudy and starless sky makes hard to see. Soon, I finally can finally see it; it's Mags. It's Mags! I rush out of my room and run to the street but as I'm getting closer, I realise that something is wrong. Even from where I am, I can see that she's limping. I run up to her as fast as I can. She looks at me, surprised.

"Finnick? What are you doing out of your house at such a time?" she asks, worried as if I was the one who got hurt.

"What happened to you?" I almost scream, seeing all of the bruises on her arms, face and legs. "What did they do to you?"

"I'm fine, kid. Go back into your house and go get some sleep."

"No." I answer categorically. "I'm not leaving. Here, let me help you."

I take her arm and place it over my shoulder to help her walk. At first, she tries to act as if I wasn't there, but soon, she leans on me and finally accept my help. When we reach her home, she instructs me to go back to my house and get some sleep, but I refuse once again. I help her get inside and after taking a closer look to the stairs leading upstairs, we both decide that she'd do better on the couch. Since all of the houses are built the same way, I have no problem leading her to the living room.

"Thank you for your help but I'll be fine, Finnick. You can head back home now."

"I know it's going to sound weird, but could I actually stay here tonight? I can't sleep over there. It's the house Viviana would be living in if she had won."

"You can stay here as long as you want. You can sleep in the room upstairs, third door on your left."

I thank her, but I'm pretty sure she's already asleep; she must be really exhausted. Tonight was not the right time to ask all of the questions I wanted to ask. I will have to do that tomorrow when she can't escape them. I want to know the truth. I walk up to the window and close the curtains before leaving the room. I climb the stairs and push open the third door on the left. Judging by the loud squeak the door produces and all of the dust, no one has entered this room in a long time. The clouds cleared up a little and the Moon's light illuminates the bedroom. It's mostly empty except for a beautifully carved frame with a picture inside. I recognise Mags, even if she's a lot younger. Standing with her in the picture is a man with really dark hair and pale green eyes. Between them, there is a boy that must be around my age. He looks a lot like Mags, except he has the man's eyes and hair. All three of them are smiling; they look so happy. It's a picture of the family she used to have, a picture of what the Capitol stole from her as if they hadn't done enough already.

I'min her deceased son's bedroom.