:| Through the Open Slot |: {Cass}

[googlefont="Muli:300"]"Dearest Opal,

I must apologize for my sudden departure from your quarters. I didn’t mean to offend you, to shut you out, but I needed some time to myself. Perhaps I wasn’t quite ready to answer the question that you had posed and I found myself delving into parts of my mind that I had never explored. I am sorry if I appeared angry. I was not angry at you; rather I was angry at myself for confronting that question so long after the 59th Games. I can only explain myself so much as I beg your pardon.

I was afraid of my answer, afraid of the consequences that it could pose on myself, along with you and your son as you both had been in my companionship when I uttered those words. As it seems we both have our heads, I can only now move forward and hope that it wasn’t only the excitement of the Games that stopped the Capitol from punishing me. It was this fear that had displaced me, permitted me to procrastinate on answering a question that I should have confronted years ago. I was in a safe place, a comfortable place, accustomed to my home, my job, my lifestyle. I will admit that I never felt completely in place in the Capitol, and yet I was doing well. There was no reason for me to question my beliefs, and more importantly, my society’s beliefs.

I didn’t mean to place you and your son in danger. It was never my intention when I knocked on the door to your quarters to put you and your son in harm’s way. It was most certainly not my intention to give you my response in that setting; however, I hope you know that I would never lie to you and in that moment, I couldn’t bring myself to do it, to utter the safe words. Your words to me outside of my door—yes, you were correct to assume that I had fled there—were very kind and please understand that I do treasure our friendship, however strange it may be.

I believe you and your son will be leaving for District 1 soon; this makes me sad as I have found your presence in the Capitol quite nice, although I am starting to understand that it is a difficult place for you. I merely hope that we can continue to communicate as such before you depart.

All the best,
Benson"