On Top [H.S.]

Chapter 22

Ophelia's POV

I hate flying with an absolute passion.

I'm currently sitting beside an old man, and the little boy behind me will not stop incessantly kicking the back of my seat. I want to jump out of the fucking window.

The old man keeps falling asleep on my shoulder and there isn't really anything I can do about it because I don't want to push him off and hurt him in some way, he looks fragile.

Thank god we land in 20 minutes.

It's Boxing Day, and I'm finally on my way home from my short trip to Boston. Christmas went exactly how I thought it would go, bittersweet with a hint of nostalgia.

It took me forever to find mom in the airport, I kind of forgot it was Christmas Eve so I didn't really take into account just how fucking packed it would be. I couldn't tell you the amount of times I was knocked into.

Too many to count.

Mom was ecstatic when she picked me up, and I have to admit, I've missed her. "Phee!" She had exclaimed, bringing back my childhood nickname and announcing it in this crowded airport.

She squeezed me so tight in her arms, and when I pulled back to get a good look at her, I didn't miss the fact that she was wearing my dad's favourite jumper, absolutely swimming in it.

She's so cute.

She looked healthier compared to when I last saw her. Her hair was still graying and she still sported the weathered lines on her face, but she just looked happier.

I know that she really loves her new job, so maybe that accounts for it, or it's quite possible she has a new person in her life.

I'm not too sure how I'd feel about that, but it's not really my place to have a say in it. I know my mom loved my father, and she knows she'll never be able to replace him, but I guess a little companionship wouldn't hurt her, especially with her being alone in a big city.

I don't want her to be lonely.

But that might not even be the case anyways, she doesn't need someone in her life to make her happy, she can very well do that her damn self.

She's always been quite independent, and made sure to remind me on numerous occasions that relying on a relationship to make you happy wasn't necessary to be content in life.

If only I remembered that when I was with Denver.

As soon as we got to her apartment, she wasted no time in making us some rum and eggnog before sitting me down, wanting to know everything she's been missing in Chicago.

We spent hours on the couch, talking about anything and everything. She tried to pry into my love life but I told her it was dead. I didn't want to try and explain whatever the fuck is going on between Harry and I, that was a headache waiting to happen.

She could tell I was hiding something. "I raised you, you know." She had reminded me, "I know you're lying but it's okay, I won't push...for now."

See? Mothers always know.

Even I don't know what the fuck is going on between us, so I was thankful she didn't push me to elaborate, cause I had no idea how I would do so.

It was funny how all of my thoughts eventually travelled back to Harry. It was evident that he wasn't able to leave my mind no matter how hard I tried.

Or how far away I was.

It was so cute of him to send me a picture of him wearing the gloves, it warmed my heart that he wanted to let me know that he was putting my gift to use.