Watermelon Sugar Die

Amnesia

In a freshly pressed lavender suit and a new pair of calf skin gloves, Harry waited. He combed his damp hair, and spritzed a custom-made cologne in a cloud above him. The mist rained down peaches and pine and everything fine. His face was shaved and smooth. He felt much less like a junkie and much more like himself, if not a little bit thinner. He crushed a watermelon lollipop with his just-bleached teeth. On the arm of the sofa with his hands crossed over his knee, he sat and waited for the knock.

Louis's phone vibrated on the kitchen counter. And a few minutes later, Harry answered the door.

Eleanor stood under the dim glow of the porch light. "Louis told me to come here and pick him up, but he's not answering his mobile. Could you tell him I'm here?"

"Come on in, Eleanor. He told me you were coming to take him to rehab. He was trying to wait for you to get here, but he was having such bad withdrawals, we both thought it was best I just took him on. He needed to get some medical attention, maybe fluids." 

Eleanor slapped her car keys against her leg. "So you just took him?" Harry nodded. "Why didn't he get you to take him in the first place? I had to drive three hours, and I was running red lights, thinking he was all alone."

Harry said, "He just trusts you more than anyone. I don't think he wanted to tell me what he'd gotten himself into until he just had to. But we got him into a really nice facility. He's going to go through their 24 hour detox program so he'll have nurses looking out for him and all that."

Eleanor relaxed. "Well, as long as he's okay."

"He's going to be fine," Harry assured her. "How rude of me.. Come in. Sit down. How long was your drive? Three hours you said? There's no way you're going to drive back tonight. It's late. It's supposed to rain. I'll get some some sheets and blankets from the closet, and make up the couch for you."

She sat on the couch, "I've got a blanket in the car. I'll just crash here until the sun comes up."

"Well, at least let me get you a drink. White wine, right?" he asked and walked to the refrigerator. 

He put a glass in her hand and sat beside her. He questioned, "You're not mad at him, are you? It really was the reasonable thing to do...going on early. And, they take your phone when you get there, you know. Honestly, I should have thought to call you, but things were moving so fast."

She sipped at her drink. "Not about this. I'm more mad at myself for being kept on the hook. I'm always waiting for him in some way or another." She turned to Harry, "And I'm so in my head I didn't even say 'hi' to you, Harry. Hi."

"Hi," he pipped.

Eleanor eyed Harry as she drew on her glass. "You're looking a little thin these days."

"Keto," he said. "Am I ghastly?"

"Oh no! No, you look handsome. I just noticed your face looks more ...defined."

Harry grinned, inched toward her. "It's been what? Almost two years since I've seen you? You get prettier with every passing year. I hope that's not inappropriate to say. What you're doing with your hair.. I like it."

"Thanks," Eleanor cast her eyes down.

Harry brought his gloved hands around to the hair draped over her shoulders. "Have you ever though about.." He gathered her hair to the top of her head so that his arms were nearly around her,  "Wearing it up like this?"

Her eyes went wide at this unexpected gesture, but his smile was disarming and his breath smelled like candy. Strawberries, maybe?

"See, this way, you could show off this lovely neck of yours," he traced a finger below her ear and let her hair fall from his hands. 

Harry's heart was pounding. He'd bought bleach from the supermarket earlier and lawn bags. Heavy duty ones. Eleanor wouldn't take Louis away. Not ever again. He'd had his plan. 

But then, Eleanor said, "Make me forget him."

And now, there was another way to keep her from taking away his Lou. He peeled off his gloves, and placed his warm hands on her body. He moved like a slow amnesia over her and through her until her toes curled and her mind cleared. With his mouth, he erased every place Louis had every been.

With the break of dawn, Eleanor silently kissed Harry's hand, and walked out of their lives.