New Reality

Rhisa rushed to the left side of his bed and crouched close to him as a form of comfort. The two most important women in his life were each at his sides. Peeta couldn't walk again. What's worse he couldn't even feel his stomach.

"This should not have happened", he thought. Every optimism he had died right there with his legs on that bed. No form of consolation would ease his pain. He felt cheated on by the world. All the joy and happiness he felt had turned to ashes in his mouth. His father was not one to show emotions. He was the first to talk to the physician while Peeta was still unconscious. Marianne stood there befuddled, short of words. At that point Mikael saw no one to blame for the calamity other than Marianne. Marianne was about to go close to Peeta when his father obstructed her to compound to her misery, for she was the most in pain. Rhisa tried to calm Mikael down but failed, and so he left for work; to take out his pain on his tools and irons. That would be his way of coming to terms with the sad truth that his first son had become handicapped.

Adrian, one of the twins walked to meet Peeta and asked, "why are you all crying?". Peeta was about to talk when Marianne intervened before he could say a word. The twins knew their brother had an accident. What they didn't yet know was their big brother they looked up to would be forever confined to the foam of a chair.

"Oh little one, your brother's fine. hes not just in the mood to talk now", she said. There was only one thing every one could do and it was to look forward no matter how hard they beat themselves. Soon after, everyone cleared the room. The physician made his way out. Rhisa motored the twins by their heads out of the room. Marianne loved Peeta with every thing she had. That alone made it hard for her to comprehend the fact that her love was a vegetable. The top of her gown was already soaked with saltwater from her blue eyes. She didnt want to cry anymore, she couldn't. The tank was empty. The next thing would be to shed blood so she stood up and positioned herself to leave. Marianne was walking away when he clutched her soft hands.

"Heh, I guess these hands still work fine."

He could see she was sad and like always, he wanted to put a smile on her face and so he tried to make a light joke that dark day.

"My love I cant bear seeing you like this!", she explained whilst continually sobbing. She had cried for so long that even her nose was wet.

"Please do not leave me now." , he begged. Peeta wanted her to stay so badly as a form of comfort that he was able to shift so close to the edge of the bed. Evidently he nearly fell. Marianne was there to wedge him back in position.

"Dont try that again Peeta, please? I'm not leaving you. I'll never leave you." she said. Marianne carefully moved him in creating enough space for her to be tucked in as well. She got into the bed, put her head softly on his chest. She could still feel his beating heart and him her hair on his open body. Her free arm was gently wrapped around his stomach. Everything instantly felt warm.

"My dear baby, I'll never leave you.", she whispered, kissing his forehead. Peeta made a request. One perhaps to ease his mind and eventually her mind temporarily; a lullaby. A common way of calming nerves back then. it proved efficient. He was looking to sleep off his new reality and so he did. Marianne realised this when she asked whether he liked it. To her delight, he was fast asleep. She pecked his forehead one more time, before resting her head back on his warmness.

"Everything will be alright Peeta".  She said. As she shut her eyes another bead of sadness dropped. This time is trickled down her cheeks on to his chest. With the silence that came after, one could hear a pin drop from a mile out.