The Night I Met Harry
Love & Asthma
I opened my eyes reluctantly, the bright light from the blind making it difficult. I stare up at the ceiling briefly before sitting up with a sigh. My eyes met the place beside where Harry didn’t sit, causing me to feel cold immediately. I felt the exact opposite of great. My head pounded, causing me to squeeze my eyes shut. My body felt slightly sore, but I couldn't imagine the reason why. I tried to remember the things that had occurred last night, but found it increased the pain of my headache. I looked to the nightstand table beside me to see a tea cup placed on a saucer. He always made me cups of tea on mornings I'd slept too late to get it myself. I picked it up sipping cautious, realizing it'd still been very hot. I glanced around the room that seemed to be in the same order, as I realized my aching long for his contact. I quickly noticed an imbalance in my breathing, deciding reluctantly to walk over to my dresser. I pulled the draw open and grabbed my inhaler from the left side. My eyes closed as I took deep breaths, taking it to my lips and pumping it once slowly. I closed my eyes allowing myself to calm and level out the thoughts that last night's party gave me. I looked in the mirror taking a towel and washing my face with the warmth of the water. I'd grabbed my toothbrush and I tried organizing how I'd ended up here from Cate's place. I ran my fingers through my hair idly as prepared myself to find Harry.I walked out of the room and into the hallway as I noticed that I no longer wore the clothes I’d worn to the party.
Winter:
"Harry?"
It was quiet throughout, excluding the tick of the large clock downstairs echoing throughout the house. I walked down peering into the kitchen in an attempt to avoid the light coming from the nearby windows. He'd been in the kitchen leaning over a pan, and flipping something over. My eyes failed to focus with the headache as I grabbed the railing tighter to avoid falling. I walked down the remainder of the stairs curious as to why he hadn't answered me.
Winter:
"Harry."
He looked up from what he'd been doing to look me over briefly before continuing again. A feeling followed me as if I’d puke any moment.
Winter:
"What'd I do this time?"
He placed the food on the plate before leaning away to shuffle his hair around and swipe it from his face.
Harry:
"You tell me..."
His eyes had my undivided as I questioned him silently.
Harry:
"You could have talked to me yesterday, you know. You didn't have to leave."
I could tell he was attempting to cover his anger to avoid raising his voice at me. I really couldn't stand an argument with the size of my migraine right now. There was a nervousness that hovered over me that I couldn’t describe.
Harry:
"You refused to answer your phone. Then, I come here and you’re nowhere to be found. You know how worried I was?"
His voice was rising slightly though I could tell he was holding back. I stayed quiet to I allowed him to relieve his temper.
Harry:
"And when you finally do get back, you decided to come completed wasted with another guy."
He'd paused to breathe and allow me to soak in his words. I was afraid that anything I said would piss him off further. I took a deep breath sitting down at the chair against the counter that sat across from him. I buried my face into my hands momentarily as I heard him place the plate in front of me. I remembered most of the things that happened but really only through I fogged glass. I shook it off as I tried to remain present.
Winter:
“We were at Cate’s, and I drank a little. Would you rather me have come by myself?”
I spoke quietly so he knew that talking was what I wanted, not to fight with him. He walked over to my side of the counter and slowly sat beside me. I turned to face him as we began the conversation.
Harry:
“Why were you drinking, Winter?”
I just wanted to loosen up and forget about everything for a while. I was so sick of having to think about him and his ex.
Winter:
“Why was your ex there last night?”
Harry:
“Listen… I told Leah you were coming; I thought she’d taken care of it.”
I stared down at the food he’d just prepared for me, trying to focus on him and block out the pain between my eyes. I was confused and the hangover was slowly beginning to make me emotional.
Harry:
“Leah came to tell me you’d left, so I went looking for you.”
His hands were in my hair now, bringing sooth to my body.
Harry:
"Is that why you were drinking?"
I candidly didn't know, and in those moments I'd told myself that I didn't care what'd happen at the party.
Winter:
" I don't know honestly. They practically shoved it down my throat but I guess I wouldn't have done it if I didn't want to."
He folded his arms across his chest. He was breathtaking, and I'd admit that no matter how mad we were at each other. I cursed to myself as I noticed my hands shook as I picked up the fork. He watched attentively before pulling up a chair beside me. He grabbed my hands before intertwining them with his. I was becoming angry with myself that I allowed him to see that part of me. I’d be scheduling an appointment with my doctor sometime soon.
Winter:
“Harry, I’m alright. I swear.”
His features had softened completely. He rubbed my hand between his affectionately as he thought quietly for a moment.
Harry:
“I want us to just…spend today communicating. Let’s just talk about everything, okay.”
I was a little taken back by the change in his mood but I chose to go with it anyway.
Harry:
“But first…”
He turned me back toward the table, kissing my cheek playfully.
Harry:
“Eat something.”
--
I now walked with bare legs and feet across the floor of Harry’s place. He’d turned the heat extremely high, in fear I’d get sick from the other night. I waited for him to get back from the car as I stare around. He’d searched for his phone everywhere, and it didn’t help that the ringer had been turned off. I noticed there had never been any pictures of Harry’s mom, or family members. I pondered why that was, and it was revealed to me that there was still a lot I hadn’t known about him. Maybe I’d question that a little further when he returned. I’d planned to go grocery shopping the next day with a list he prepared me with for dinner. It was always a pleasure in watching him cook that I actively chose to keep to myself.
Just then I’d heard him fiddling around with the keys on the other side of the door. I wondered why he’d even locked it. It gave me butterflies to experience his presence again though he’d only left a short time ago. I ran over to the door, unlocking it, and swinging it open for him. A smiled graced my lips as he played with his curls roughly before sweeping them aside routinely.
Winter:
“Did you find it?”
His dimples were immediately displayed to me, I assumed from the lack of clothes I’d been wearing.
Harry:
“…Yup. It was on the floor in the backseat. I wonder how that happened.”
I smiled back, showing my pearly whites to his amusement. I walked across the living room now, sitting in continuous search for any pictures from his history.
Winter:
“Harry…”
He looked down at me as he made his way across the room. His eyes were subtle.
Harry:
“Mm, hm.”
We’d been questioning each other all day but I wanted to watch his reaction to this. I chose to approach the question from a less obvious angle.
Winter:
“Do you have siblings?”
He took off the watch that had adorned his wrist, unbuckling it and sitting it on the living room table. He chose to pace himself before answering the question so I didn’t take offense to the pause. There was a sigh as he ran his finger through his curls again, mopping them from his face.
Harry:
“Uh… No… I had a sister… she passed away a few years ago.”
My heart sunk at his words, and my feminine instincts instructed me to comfort him. I didn’t dare ask what happen, unless he’d been willing to share with me that information. My arms were around him as he stood solid to the spot. His fingers reached for my hair.
Harry:
“It’s alright.”
It still hurt me to hear. I hadn’t yet said anything, choosing to wait for him to continue. It kind of bothered me that I didn’t know this before, after everything that’d happened between us. It was automatic to wonder what’d happened to her in my mind, but I chose to push it back in fear he’d notice. He’d spoken, deterring my thoughts.
Harry:
“…She had asthma.”
My heart felt heavy. In that moment it’d made sense to me; his reaction to what I’d told him. I immediately felt a wave of regret. Maybe it was best he didn’t know. I could only imagine what he’d been thinking, how protective he’d now feel over me. I hated to put that kind of pressure on him now, but it was a part of my life that I had to learn to accept.
Winter:
“I’m so sorry.”
I listened to his heart as it beat against my head.
Harry:
“Just promise me something…”
I squeezed him closer in impulse.
Winter:
“Anything.”
Harry:
“Keep your inhaler with you.”
Winter:
“Harry.”
He hadn’t said anything but I could tell it was something he’d felt strongly about. So it was no point in arguing with him. I understood now.
Winter:
“I promise.”
Winter:
"Harry?"
It was quiet throughout, excluding the tick of the large clock downstairs echoing throughout the house. I walked down peering into the kitchen in an attempt to avoid the light coming from the nearby windows. He'd been in the kitchen leaning over a pan, and flipping something over. My eyes failed to focus with the headache as I grabbed the railing tighter to avoid falling. I walked down the remainder of the stairs curious as to why he hadn't answered me.
Winter:
"Harry."
He looked up from what he'd been doing to look me over briefly before continuing again. A feeling followed me as if I’d puke any moment.
Winter:
"What'd I do this time?"
He placed the food on the plate before leaning away to shuffle his hair around and swipe it from his face.
Harry:
"You tell me..."
His eyes had my undivided as I questioned him silently.
Harry:
"You could have talked to me yesterday, you know. You didn't have to leave."
I could tell he was attempting to cover his anger to avoid raising his voice at me. I really couldn't stand an argument with the size of my migraine right now. There was a nervousness that hovered over me that I couldn’t describe.
Harry:
"You refused to answer your phone. Then, I come here and you’re nowhere to be found. You know how worried I was?"
His voice was rising slightly though I could tell he was holding back. I stayed quiet to I allowed him to relieve his temper.
Harry:
"And when you finally do get back, you decided to come completed wasted with another guy."
He'd paused to breathe and allow me to soak in his words. I was afraid that anything I said would piss him off further. I took a deep breath sitting down at the chair against the counter that sat across from him. I buried my face into my hands momentarily as I heard him place the plate in front of me. I remembered most of the things that happened but really only through I fogged glass. I shook it off as I tried to remain present.
Winter:
“We were at Cate’s, and I drank a little. Would you rather me have come by myself?”
I spoke quietly so he knew that talking was what I wanted, not to fight with him. He walked over to my side of the counter and slowly sat beside me. I turned to face him as we began the conversation.
Harry:
“Why were you drinking, Winter?”
I just wanted to loosen up and forget about everything for a while. I was so sick of having to think about him and his ex.
Winter:
“Why was your ex there last night?”
Harry:
“Listen… I told Leah you were coming; I thought she’d taken care of it.”
I stared down at the food he’d just prepared for me, trying to focus on him and block out the pain between my eyes. I was confused and the hangover was slowly beginning to make me emotional.
Harry:
“Leah came to tell me you’d left, so I went looking for you.”
His hands were in my hair now, bringing sooth to my body.
Harry:
"Is that why you were drinking?"
I candidly didn't know, and in those moments I'd told myself that I didn't care what'd happen at the party.
Winter:
" I don't know honestly. They practically shoved it down my throat but I guess I wouldn't have done it if I didn't want to."
He folded his arms across his chest. He was breathtaking, and I'd admit that no matter how mad we were at each other. I cursed to myself as I noticed my hands shook as I picked up the fork. He watched attentively before pulling up a chair beside me. He grabbed my hands before intertwining them with his. I was becoming angry with myself that I allowed him to see that part of me. I’d be scheduling an appointment with my doctor sometime soon.
Winter:
“Harry, I’m alright. I swear.”
His features had softened completely. He rubbed my hand between his affectionately as he thought quietly for a moment.
Harry:
“I want us to just…spend today communicating. Let’s just talk about everything, okay.”
I was a little taken back by the change in his mood but I chose to go with it anyway.
Harry:
“But first…”
He turned me back toward the table, kissing my cheek playfully.
Harry:
“Eat something.”
--
I now walked with bare legs and feet across the floor of Harry’s place. He’d turned the heat extremely high, in fear I’d get sick from the other night. I waited for him to get back from the car as I stare around. He’d searched for his phone everywhere, and it didn’t help that the ringer had been turned off. I noticed there had never been any pictures of Harry’s mom, or family members. I pondered why that was, and it was revealed to me that there was still a lot I hadn’t known about him. Maybe I’d question that a little further when he returned. I’d planned to go grocery shopping the next day with a list he prepared me with for dinner. It was always a pleasure in watching him cook that I actively chose to keep to myself.
Just then I’d heard him fiddling around with the keys on the other side of the door. I wondered why he’d even locked it. It gave me butterflies to experience his presence again though he’d only left a short time ago. I ran over to the door, unlocking it, and swinging it open for him. A smiled graced my lips as he played with his curls roughly before sweeping them aside routinely.
Winter:
“Did you find it?”
His dimples were immediately displayed to me, I assumed from the lack of clothes I’d been wearing.
Harry:
“…Yup. It was on the floor in the backseat. I wonder how that happened.”
I smiled back, showing my pearly whites to his amusement. I walked across the living room now, sitting in continuous search for any pictures from his history.
Winter:
“Harry…”
He looked down at me as he made his way across the room. His eyes were subtle.
Harry:
“Mm, hm.”
We’d been questioning each other all day but I wanted to watch his reaction to this. I chose to approach the question from a less obvious angle.
Winter:
“Do you have siblings?”
He took off the watch that had adorned his wrist, unbuckling it and sitting it on the living room table. He chose to pace himself before answering the question so I didn’t take offense to the pause. There was a sigh as he ran his finger through his curls again, mopping them from his face.
Harry:
“Uh… No… I had a sister… she passed away a few years ago.”
My heart sunk at his words, and my feminine instincts instructed me to comfort him. I didn’t dare ask what happen, unless he’d been willing to share with me that information. My arms were around him as he stood solid to the spot. His fingers reached for my hair.
Harry:
“It’s alright.”
It still hurt me to hear. I hadn’t yet said anything, choosing to wait for him to continue. It kind of bothered me that I didn’t know this before, after everything that’d happened between us. It was automatic to wonder what’d happened to her in my mind, but I chose to push it back in fear he’d notice. He’d spoken, deterring my thoughts.
Harry:
“…She had asthma.”
My heart felt heavy. In that moment it’d made sense to me; his reaction to what I’d told him. I immediately felt a wave of regret. Maybe it was best he didn’t know. I could only imagine what he’d been thinking, how protective he’d now feel over me. I hated to put that kind of pressure on him now, but it was a part of my life that I had to learn to accept.
Winter:
“I’m so sorry.”
I listened to his heart as it beat against my head.
Harry:
“Just promise me something…”
I squeezed him closer in impulse.
Winter:
“Anything.”
Harry:
“Keep your inhaler with you.”
Winter:
“Harry.”
He hadn’t said anything but I could tell it was something he’d felt strongly about. So it was no point in arguing with him. I understood now.
Winter:
“I promise.”
Notes
Hope you liked ! I actually have asthma so I can relate. I love you for reading. Subscribe, I update really often. :)-Kristian
@Cold Summer
Aww I truly hope so I always look forward to your updates!!! You truly know how to write and keep a reader hooked!! Can't wait to see what you have in store!! :)
8/20/15