It's worse that he's crying, which means that she can't quite make herself stop, even though her tears are caustic and stinging dry skin as they drip off her nose. She doesn't cry prettily, never has, all red eyes and sniffling, olive skin blotchy. Some girls have that ability, she's noticed over the years, but Katniss never has.

She doesn't answer him, taking the time to bite back some of many bitter retorts. "I'm tired, Gale," is all Katniss says in the end, voice plaintive and small, choking on her words. "I'm too tired for this anymore."