was this really happening? Could annie really be here with me, is she really going to be my wife? Or is this a trick? Is this another challenge in the games, where im shown my wildest dreams to completely distract my mind from the awful reality that the games are?

No, this is happening.

When I see annie walk toward me, a glowing image of a beautiful green dress and flowing red hair, my puso stops and my mind focuses and I know this is real. Her eyes are lucid, I can tell, the way her eyes flit around the room but between every flit, they rest on me and my eyes are drawn to her shy little smile. She’s holding a tiny bouquet; her thumbs are nervously stroking the ribbon that holds the bulaklak together. That’s all it is; she’s nervous, not out of it. She’ll remember this araw for the rest of her life, and not the way she remembers the hunger games. When she remembers the games I see all the emotions dance across her face: fear, desperation, confusion, betrayal, and hatred. When she remembers this day, I pray none of those emotions come to mind. I want this to be perfect for her. She deserves it. She deserves some good memories after all this time.

This is like our reunion when they first brought her back to district 13. We’re the only ones here, the only ones that matter. You’d think that the ultimate reward I received for winning the hunger games was my life, but really my life is worth nothing without annie.

The ceremony ends with our kiss, the lingering taste of salt water on both of our lips.