The Strings To My Heart

4

"Yeah," I said tightly. "Just go."

"Are you sure? I can ask if you can come-"

"No," I said a little too loudly. "Go."

"Okay... Bye!"

And with that, the pair of them we're gone.

I was beyond furious at that moment. I knew exactly what those two bastards were doing. They were trying to take Prim and Annie away from me. And although I would never let that happen, I'll admit that they had the upper hand. They had money, they were older, and were technically their parents too. I swore to myself that I would never let that happen.

Little did I know, life was about to be completely flipped.

*****

Fifteen minutes remained until Prim returned home and Buttercup was still lost. At this point, I was panicking. I had checked everywhere and still couldn't find the damn cat.

All of a sudden, I realized I hadn't checked in the back yard. I rushed to the door and flung it open, scanning the yard for any sign of the cat. That's when I saw him.

And, because life couldn't get any harder, he was dead.

My heart sank when I saw his still, lifeless figure. It appeared that he had died... in his sleep? Then it came to me that he was indeed a very old cat. I had been too caught up in my own worries to acknowledge his passing. Part of me felt sick and ashamed, but the other part of me knew this was coming anyway.

But how to tell Prim?

She loved this cat so dearly and just imagining her reaction was painful. But I had to do something. I grabbed a shovel from the garage and dug a shallow hole in the corner of the yard, making sure it was just the right size for poor old Buttercup. I laid him in the ditch and whispered, "Goodbye, Buttercup. Thank you for bringing us so much joy. We loved you."

And just as I finished burying him, I heard Prim's cheery voice from inside, signaling her return home.

"Hey, Prim!" I called, trying to remain normal as possible. But I knew she would soon be able to see right through me.

"Oh hey Katniss!" she said, giving me a hug. In the midst of this situation, I couldn't resist smiling at Prim. I don't know what I'd do without her.

"Oooh, I have to show you something," she said, digging through her bag. I grinned and asked, "What do you have?"

"A new toy for Buttercup!" she exclaimed, waggling a small toy mouse with little bells on it in front of my face. My heart dropped and I tried to look pleased.

"Very nice, Prim!" I said, in a fake cheery voice, almost identical to the one I despised of my mother's.

"Yeah," she said beaming. "Where is he? I want to give him the new toy!"

"Oh!" I said, internally face palming myself for not planning this scenario out. I also felt a stab of guilt, trying to lie to my sister like this. It's for her own good. "Well... maybe you could give it to him in a little bit."

"Why?" Prim asked suspiciously.

"Oh, he's out in the woods like he always is," I lied. Katniss, STOP, a voice inside my head urged. You'll only make it worse!

"Oh, so you found him?" Prim asked delightedly. "That's great!"

"You found the cat!" my mother said, beaming. "Oh, how wonderful. What a pesky little creature he is!"

Was, I think. I'm hit with another fresh stab of guilt.

Just tell her the truth, my conscience hissed angrily. You're only making it worse by lying.