"So, we've seen your relationship with your sister. But... Your mother? What's the relationship between you and her?" Cesar's question hits with the same devastating effect as a waterfall crashing against a rock face.

Katniss's first reaction is to widen her eyes, her body stiff, not even feeling Peeta's hand rest on her shoulder. Katniss then closes her eyes, taking a deep breath; what can she do? She knows she has to talk a little, she has to, but she wants to keep you and Prim for herself. You're all she has, and she doesn't want to put you in danger or feed you to those cameras and hungry sharks. But at the same time, she has to give the Capitol something, so you're both left alone.

When she reaches the solution—to talk about it as little as possible but honestly—the sixteen-year-old's brain is flooded with your memories; when you sang her lullabies, when you kissed her on the forehead, hugged her, cuddled her, or caressed her, when she and Prim took refuge in your bed, frightened by the noises, and you ran your slender fingers through their hair, held them close and cuddled them, singing the melodies, when you encouraged them both and complimented them every time they succeeded, all the sacrifices made for both of them, your hard work, the pain you never experienced because they both needed you... Everything. Her mind races to all of this in a second, and a small, but sincere smile makes its way to the Victor's lips.

"My mother..." Katniss begins, sighing. "She's my example. She's always done so much for my sister and me, she's never abandoned us, or made us feel like a burden, despite the difficulties we've experienced... She's always loved and protected us, always. I'm happy to have the mother I have." Katniss says, nodding slightly, unable to see that, miles and miles away, in your new home in the Victors' Village of District 12, you, her mother, were watching and listening to her words, smiling with emotion.