Chapter Text
Haymitch Abernathy, the 50th victor of this quarter quell. He had done, her son was coming back home alive. She had hoped and prayed that this would happen. And now it was finally a reality.
Watching the games had been a living nightmare. If it wasn’t for the mandatory viewing she would have refused to watch any part of the games. Only being able to see her son through some screens. The thought that the last time she would see her son was by getting killed in an arena was enough to make her nauseous. She had tried her best to cover Sid’s eye from the more gruesome deaths, but there was only so much she could do.
But none of that mattered anymore. It was finally over. At least until next year.
“Ma! Haymitch won! He’s finally coming home.” Sid’s excitement was contagious.
Today was the day that her oldest would finally return home. After the capitol paraded their winner around for their own amusement, it was finally time for their victor to return to his own district.
They had woken up early at the news. They didn’t know at what time the train would arrive, so they decided to get there early. She wanted to be the first person to greet him once he returned.
As time passed more people arrived at the train station, waiting for the victor to return. From the corner of her she could see the familiar faces of the other families of the children that had also gotten reaped this year. Louella’s father and her siblings. Wyatt’s mother and father. Maysilee’s parents and sister. She decided to keep her distance from the rest of the tribute's families. She didn’t know if right now would be a great time to give them her condolences. Would they find it disingenuous? Hers was the only one who had survived.
The sound of a train getting closer brought her back from the dark thoughts. Peacekeepers surrounded the train’s entrance. A few of them entered, for several minutes everyone waited in bated breath for the winner to arrive. The first person to step out of the train was not Haymitch, it was the peacekeepers that had entered the train. They were carrying a large box. One, then a second one, and then a third one. It was then that everyone realised that these were caskets of the other tributes from the district. The family of the respective tribute went to collect the body of their fallen member. So now that just left one person missing.
After what felt like an eternity, Haymitch finally walked out of the train.
Applauds erupted from the crowd once Haymitch appeared at the train entrance. He looked at the crowd that had come to welcome him home. Haymitch’s eyes moved towards the caskets of his fallen tributes, before turning to look at her and Sid.
“Haymitch!” Sid waved at his brother as he walked down from the train station.
Haymitch wrapped his arms around her and his brother. His grip was tight around the both of them, not wanting to let them go.
When he did let go, she was finally able to get a good look at him. “Welcome home, son.” She placed one her hands on his cheek, Haymitch leaned into the touch. Looking into her son's eyes she realised there was something that wasn’t there before he left. She remembered how Haymitch had looked at her and Sid before he left, a spark of determination. Now that he was back she noticed that the spark was gone.
His time in the capital and then in the arena had worn him down. There were bags under his eyes, he looked so tired. He had been keeping the facade of a winner, but once he reached his mother’s arms he had completely given up with the person.
“I’m back, Ma.” Those had been the first words he had uttered after returning home. His voice was barely a whisper, she was probably the only one who heard him.
She got to hug her son and welcome him back home. The others only had the bodies to place in graves.
So why did it feel like she had lost her son too?