The Lost Boy (Harry Styles)

6

FLASHBACK...

It started when Harry was one year old. Before that everything was relatively ok. Des worked in construction, Anne was a stay at home Mum, as Des earned enough.

But in the spring, Des lost his job, as the company went bust. That sent Des into a downward spiral that would eventually end in tragedy.

He took to the booze, being drunk more often than being sober.

"I wish you didn't drink so much. We should be saving money, not wasting it on alcohol." Anne would say often.

Des would glare at her and open another can, taking no notice.

It worried Anne when Des would pick Harry up, scared he would drop him or scare the boy.

"Be careful with Harry. Don't hold him like that, you'll hurt him." Anne fretted as Des held him losely in one arm.

"Oh stop it Anne. I know how to hold him. You're alright aren't you boy?" He swung Harry around, making him cry, trying to grab Anne's hands.

"Des! Give him to me please. He doesn't like it."

"Go away you stupid woman. He's fine." He swung him around again. Harry cried harder.

"Shut up with that noise!" He yelled at Harry, throwing him onto the sofa. Anne picked him up and cuddled the screaming, trembling boy. He held onto her tightly.

"Why did you do that? You scared the hell out of him. Get out of here and don't come back until you're sober."

"You don't tell me what to do!" He poked his finger at her. "It's my house. You don't like it...you go!"

"Fine!" Anne yelled. She collected Harry's changing bag, putting him in the pushchair, took their coats and left the house.

Anne had no family, no friends. She had left her friends behind in London when she met Des. Her parents had both passed away, there were no siblings, Aunts or Uncles.

She was all alone in a town where nobody knew her.

Des would do all the food shopping and anything else was bought online. He was a bit possessive, not wanting to share his wife or son with anyone else.

Anne didn't have anywhere to go, so she headed to the shopping centre and sat on a bench while Harry slept.

She eventually went back home, finding Des passed out on the sofa, empty beer cans beside him on the carpet.

*******

It seemed like groundhog day to Anne. Every day the same. Des drunk. Des being abusive more and more.

She put up with it for the next year. It ground her down. She was depressed, but tried to be strong for Harry.

Harry was introverted. He should be playing with friends, and being a happy little boy. But he lived in a sad home, so he felt sad too.

Things were getting worse.

Anne was getting hit on a regular basis. Des was drunk all the time. Money was running out.

Anne was worried for her and Harry's safety.

"I swear I'm gonna hurt that boy if you don't shut him up!" Des yelled. Harry was poorly with a bad tummy and couldn't help but cry.

Des had a huge hangover and Harry's cries weren't helping.

He got up from the sofa and lunged at Harry. Anne jumped in front of him and took a punch.

"Don't you dare touch him!" She screamed.

"Shut him up then!"

"He's ill! He can't help it!"

"I'm ill...he's just a snivelling little shit!"

Anne left the house with Harry.

She thought about going to the police, but Des told her if she ever did that, he'd kill them both.

She had to think of something.

Of course she returned home later. Des passed out as usual.

A week later, after a beating from Des, Anne dressed Harry in his best clothes. She printed out his name and birthdate on a piece of paper and put it in his coat pocket. She put his coat, boots, hat, scarf and gloves on him, making sure he was warm as it was particularly cold outside.

"Harry...Mummy loves you so much. But...I can't look after you anymore. If you stay here, you'll get hurt and I can't have that. You'll find a new loving family that will give you a better life. Just know that I love you so very much and I'll never forget you." She cried.

This would be the hardest thing she would ever have to do.

She carried him into town, they sat on a bench and Anne watched as Christmas shoppers hurried around.

She gave Harry the biggest cuddle he ever had. "I love you. I'm so sorry. I love you so much."

When there were only a few people around, she sat Harry on the bench. She peppered his cheeks with kisses. "Wait here. Mummy will be right back." She said to the small boy. She stood up, taking one last look, and turned away, walking quickly until he was out of sight.

She slumped on a wall around the corner and burst into tears. She looked around the corner and watched, until she saw a woman talk to Harry.  After a few minutes, he was picked up and taken inside the shopping centre.

Anne sighed. He was gone. He would be safe now.

Now she needed to go home and sort her own life out.

Hello....
There'll be another flashback chapter.

Thoughts on this one?

All the love. L. Xx 💖💖💖