"Go back to sleep, Gale." I whisper it because it's the only thing I know how to say at this point. No matter how well I explain it, Gale will never understand. Peeta still doesn't. Our world changed too quickly and violently to comprehend without seeing it firsthand.

Maybe it's better that way. It's too late for me - I've already crossed the point of no return. I'll never be happy again. But it isn't for Gale and Peeta. As much as I hate to admit it, the island is the closest thing to safe that any one of us have ever experienced. Even if I don't believe it and expect to hear explosions and the tromping of boots at any moment. I've seen too much to ever believe that good things stay the way they are.

They call it a blank slate for a reason.