Hunger Games Sequel

The Vase

    I laughed. Prim spun, and Miles giggled, copied his sister, and fell down in the grass. His blonde curls bounced. Prim's dress that I made shone in the sunlight.

"Mom, I love it!" she exclaimed. "Thank you!"

I smiled, and stood up to hug her.

"You're very welcome."

Miles started hobbling into the street. "Dada dada!!"

I turned, and felt my heart lift. There was Peeta in the distance, running down the road, smiling, his arms outstretched. When he and Miles got close enough, Peeta swung Miles up in the air, spinning him. Miles laughed, with his toddler laugh.

"Daddy! Now me!" Prim ran up to Peeta.

He lifted her to his hip. Then he turned to me. His eyes melted me again. He set down the kids, and he pulled me in and kissed me.

"Eweweweweww" Miles gibbered, copying his sister.

He pulled back and put his hands on my hips and looked into my eyes. I melted once again. I put my head on his shoulder.

"Hey" I looked up; there was a silly grin on his face. "I have a surprise for you."

I smiled, thinking to myself. "Me too."

"Well then let's get inside."

Peeta picked up Miles, and grabbed Prim's hand. We walked across the blooming yard full of Primroses and other flowers. Prim pulled away from Peeta.

"Look Mom! My flowers!" Prim knelt and stroked them.

"Well grab some, I'll set up the vase" I said.

Prim stayed behind and started picking Primroses. Peeta opened the front door for me. I smiled, and then walked in. I kicked off my leather boots into the shoe basket, and hurried into the kitchen for the vase. I climbed up onto the marble counter, and grabbed a vase off the collection off the couch. I stared at its frilled edges for a moment, dread running through me. I smelled it, and it still smelled like it did 12 years ago. I suddenly felt woozy, and slipped off the counter. The vase slipped out of my grasp and shattered on the floor, shards flying everywhere. I collapsed in a heap. I heard Peeta run in.

"Katniss!!" He gasped.

He ran over to me. I pulled aside my hair on the floor to look at him. He started brushing glass shards off me.

"Katniss, what happened?" Peeta asked, starting to panic.

I couldn't speak. I was so shocked and hurt.

"Katniss. Please." Peeta's eyes looked so sad and hurt.

I lifted my arm, picked up a large shard of glass, and lifted it to Peeta's nose. He sniffed it, and his eyes widened. Suddenly I felt sick. The aroma had gotten to me. I started to dry heave, and then started throwing up.

"Katniss," Peeta's eyes filled with tears. "I should have gotten rid of it years ago. I'm so sorry."

I vaguely felt his strong arms wrap around me and lift me up. I hardly even felt the bed's soft covers envelop me. Then all I saw was darkness.