:| Not Quite Good-bye |: {Benson one-shot}

A Games had past and I knew it was time.

I had told my loyal assistant first; he had betrayed no emotions as he bowed his head down. “I was beginning to wonder when you would say that, sir.” He was always so perceptive, sometimes more than I gave him credit for. It had made my decision that much easier, knowing that I would give him what he deserved. “Yes, well, I suppose it’s time that I take a vacation, no?” The piece of paper on my desk would confirm my future, change my status in the Capitol. “I must say, Quincy, I think you deserve a vacation as well.” Ever-reliable Quincy, always so self-sacrificing, simply shook his head. “I wouldn’t know what to do, sir. I have been your personal assistant for so long—“ I looked at my assistant with a mixture of bemusement and exasperation. “I’m asking you to take a vacation, Quincy, not to retire.”

But I could never fool Quincy, his brown eyes looking at me with a steel resolve. “And you, sir?” My smile became rueful as I avoided his eye contact. “There’s just no escaping you, is there?” We both sighed as I kept prolonging my answer. “It’s been a long time coming, Quincy.” No other words came to me, and I knew I wouldn’t have to say anymore with my assistant. “If I may ask, sir, but does this decision have to do with Miss Opal?” My face became stoic as I knew I could betray no emotions, yet my eyes gave my assistant the answer he wanted. Yes, Opal my dear friend, had definitely influenced my decision to finally step down. Maybe I could have fooled myself and anyone else with the words, “No, I have been thinking about this for a while”, but the truth was that until Opal had forced me to imagine her child in an arena I controlled, I would have taken my spot at the control system.

It had been a while since I had last seen Opal, her disappearing from sight once again, but I hoped that she would be pleased with my decision. I hoped that she understood the gesture I was giving her by finally closing that chapter in my book. I hoped that she was well with her son. I must have lingered for too long as Quincy’s soothing voice wove itself into my mind. “At the very least, let me grab you a cup of tea, sir.” He always did know what I needed. I gave him a nod and a smile before lifting the piece of paper one more time. My eyes scanned it quickly, knowing that the words would only be seen with two pairs of eyes. It did not matter; I had no large proclamation for it, no flowery words to describe my experience as a Gamemaker. It conveyed all that I needed to say.

My fingers placed the piece of paper back on my desk, a gift, and I turned to look out the window, hands stuffed in my pockets. For the first time in a long time, I drew in a big breath and exhaled slowly as I admired the skyline of my home, the Capitol. It sure looked different now.