Harry was tired.

Tired of the English rain that made the winter days colder, tired of bright grey mornings and dark cold nights, tired of the mundane routines of life but most of all he was tired of not having her.

So Harry did what he always did when he grew tired. He packed up his things and took a drive to Holmes Chapel. It was his only place of solace when things got crazy. Things there were familiar and comforting. It was the only place he knew for sure where nothing and no one would give up on him.

It was past midnight when Harry arrived and he tried his hardest not to make any movements that would wake Anne and Robbin. But Anne knew her son well, well enough to recognize his clumsy footsteps whilst in the realm between asleep and awake. She knew him well enough to know where his safe place was.

It was no surprise when she woke and discovered her overgrown baby boy curled up in his childhood bed, having fallen asleep in a state of undressing, still clad in jeans with one sock on and one sock off. Anne decided she’s save the questions for later when he was alert and ready to answer her questions but she grew worried when later turned to afternoon.

“Morning, Mum.”

Anne jumped upon hearing her son’s drawl. It had not been long since she’d arrived home from grocery shopping and had stored things away in the fridge, making herself comfortable at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and a magazine. Contents of her mug splattered onto a glassy advert for a pair of Wellingtons.

“It’s afternoon you bugger.” she chided, the corner of her lips curving into a smile.

“Oh, right.”

His footsteps are quiet as he pads over, placing a chaste kiss upon his mother’s cheek before retreating to the fridge.

“So,” Anne begins. “what time did you get in last night?”

Harry shrugs, wiggling his toes into the kitchen tiles as he fixes his gaze into the refrigerator light.

“Late.” he replies simply, retrieving a container of ham.

“Got a job of some sort?” Anne questioned eyeing her son as he carefully nestled pieces of ham between two slices of bread, not even bothering to look at her.

“No, jus’ taking a little time off.”

“Hmm,” she hummed. “your birthday isn’t until another week.”

Harry shrugged again before going to join his mother at the table.

“I wanted to surprise you and check on Gem.”

Anne knows for a fact that something is bothering him and she’s hoping he’ll crack.

“They’re not going to find out the gender of the baby. They want it to be a surprise.”

“Nice.” he mumbles in response.

Anne’s eyes wander back to her magazine when the question finds her.

“How’s Presley?”

Harry pinches a piece of bread crust between his fingers and his heart sinks upon her question. He doesn’t want to talk about it, doesn’t want to admit that she’s the reason he’s down but he knows Anne can see right through him.

“Things aren’t so good.”

Her eyebrows raise and she knows she’s gotten to the root of the problem.

“You two break up?”

He sighs.

“Something like that.”

“Well,” Anne blinks. “it couldn’t have been mutual. You don’t sound too happy.”

“I’m just,” Harry sighs again. “ ’M just tired of not being good enough, tired of having my feelings toyed with.”

His words sting and Anne finds her motherly defenses kicking in.

“I didn’t know she was that type of girl.” she spat.

Harry shrugs.

“She’s still very lovely, regardless. It’s just the way I feel, ’s all.”

Her eyebrows pinch together and Anne finds herself confused.

“Well, why stick with a girl who makes you feel that way? Why not search for better?”

“It’s not that easy, Mum,” he sighs. “she’s my best friend and- I love her.”

Anne’s ears perk up at the four letter word. She’d heard only heard her son say it about a handful of women and it frightens her. She knows how he is, knows how hard he loves and knows how fragile his heart is.

“I know what you’re thinking, Mum but I want this-I want her so bad. She just keeps pulling away.

She sighs.

"I don’t know. I don’t know if you should waste your time. You shouldn’t spend your life waiting for someone who’s only going to hurt you.”

Harry wants to rebuttal but he knows his Mum is right. He know he should just give up, drop her and move on. But the desire is still there, the longing still tugs at his heart.

“You remember Hannah Browning? You went to primary school together and she used to live about a block away? Her mum would give you hair cuts when you were a boy?” Anne speaks, suddenly changing the subject.

“Name sounds familiar.” he mumbled.

“She’s back in town. You should reconnect. She was always such a nice girl.”

Harry shrugs.

“Maybe we should.”

His response seems to please Anne and Harry thinks maybe he should follow his mum’s suggestion. Maybe he should let her go.

If something comes back to you it’s meant to be yours.

Notes