[She wavers on the edge of uncertainty until Pepper's final suggestion. It's easy to dismiss the first few. But telling Peeta that she loved him... being capable of saying those three words allowed? That was something she had thought she could never do. Not in reality, not outside of the charade established for the Hunger Games. She had heard Peeta tell her that he loved her repeatedly. But she had never, ever been able to say it back.
Until that night they had made love for the first time. When she really, truly saw the love he held for her. He hadn't been repulsed by her scars, hadn't been repulsed by her stand-offish nature. He had held her instead and made that moment into a memory she never expected to have. Not the girl who wanted to grow up to live a life alone. To ensure that she never had a family of her own.
She swallows hard and gasps a little for breath.] Wouldn't it be better? To be that person who doesn't say those kinds of words?
[voice/locked]
Until that night they had made love for the first time. When she really, truly saw the love he held for her. He hadn't been repulsed by her scars, hadn't been repulsed by her stand-offish nature. He had held her instead and made that moment into a memory she never expected to have. Not the girl who wanted to grow up to live a life alone. To ensure that she never had a family of her own.
She swallows hard and gasps a little for breath.] Wouldn't it be better? To be that person who doesn't say those kinds of words?