I know what you mean, but I don't think it's true. Not for me, anyway. The arena was the reason I found out how you felt and the reason I finally talked to you- I'd been meaning to, you know, to thank you for the bread- but if we hadn't gotten reaped together, I think we might've talked at some point. I'd like to think we would have. It would have been more complicated, with Gale there, but maybe it would've been easier that way, too. Without the arena and having to act for the cameras, just being ourselves. I don't love you because of everything you did, but because you're the person who would do them. Because you're you.
I used to be really confused, but now that we're together, it feels like this was inevitable. Like it was always going to be you. Deep down somewhere I probably knew that a while ago, definitely after the time we found out we'd be going back into the arena, because that made it simpler. Because I didn't have to make a choice between you and Gale and I didn't have to figure out how to love you, I just had to figure out how to save you. That's the only thing I knew that love was, before. Being willing to die for someone. I guess that's always been pretty important for both of us.
I'll help you figure it out, Peeta. There's time. I'm not going anywhere.