Katniss stood outside your home, her breath clouding the frigid air as she waited for someone to answer. It was the middle of winter, and the bitter cold seeped through her worn jacket. She shuffled her feet on the frozen ground, glancing at the window. The curtains were drawn tight, but faint voices could be heard from inside—then, shouting. Her heart sank.

The sound of pain cut through the night, followed by the harsh slam of a door from somewhere inside the house. She tensed, her fingers curling into fists by her sides. She knew your family wasn't kind, especially your father and older sister, but this... this felt different.

Suddenly, the door in front of her creaked open. Your older sister stood in the doorway, her expression hard and unyielding. Katniss noticed the way she held the door tightly, blocking the view inside.

"She's not coming back in tonight," Your sister said coldly. There was no explanation, no remorse in her voice. Just a decision made.

Your sister stepped outside, holding a threadbare blanket in her hand. She threw it at you, her face twisted in frustration. "You can sleep out here if you want, but you’re not coming back inside until morning. Don’t make me tell you again."

You stood there, shivering, looking small against the cold and the harsh world you lived in. Your eyes met Katniss', wide and full of fear, but also a quiet resignation. It was clear you had no choice.

Katniss clenched her teeth, anger and helplessness rising in her chest. She wanted to storm inside, to drag you out of this place, away from them, but what could she do? The Capitol may have been the biggest monster, but sometimes the cruelty closer to home cut even deeper. She wanted to offer comfort, to promise you that it would get better—but in Panem, such promises were hard to keep.

"I’ll stay with you," Katniss said softly, taking off her cowl and putting it around your neck. She knelt down beside you on the steps, pulling you close to share what little warmth she had. "You're not alone."