Liberation [Disclosure sequel] h.s

07

Evelyn

Standing outside London Heathrow airport, with nothing but a suitcase in my hands as I am about to travel to the other side of the Atlantic feels unreal. I have always wanted to travel the world as I never had the chance to leave the country by plane.

I just never imagined my first trip would be a one-way ticket with no prospects of ever returning to my home country.

Last night was one of the most difficult ones I had in a while, even if lately every night seems harder than the previous one. Harry dozed off on the sofa because of the pain medication he was taking, while I remained awake the whole night walking around the apartment as if I was saying goodbye to it.

For the first time, I gathered the courage needed to enter Claire's bedroom, still intact just like she left it before deciding to meet up with Howard. I found myself laying on top of her bed, holding a photo I had never seen before. It was a small frame she had on her bedside table, it was a picture of herself with her three children, Collin being just a small baby at the time. Harry had the typical angry teenager look in his eyes while Isabella hugged him from the side. Claire was displaying a shy smile, probably she was already facing a nightmare with Howard.

Harry woke up in the middle of the night startled with the fact I was not in the living room nor in the bedroom, but he quickly found me in his mom bedroom. It was also the first time he went there since everything happened. The look on his face when he found me was one expression I had never seen on Harry. 

He didn't need to say it, but I just knew that for those few seconds he didn't know where I was, he thought I had left him. You could see the relief on his face when he found me laying on the bed.

I was still unsure whether this was a good idea or not, leaving the country with him. As much as I try to convince myself I would still follow Harry even if I had the choice, sometimes I wonder if I would have the courage. In my mind, there was no other choice so I should simply accept I was never going to come back here. However, it was easier said than done.

When Harry found me he didn't waste any time laying down next to me, holding the photo between his hands.

"Isabella and I had fought just before we took this photo, that explains my grumpy face." He explained.

"Why did you two fight about?" I asked curiously, surprised he was opening up to me. I had been so used to his distant behaviour on the last days I nearly forgot this was my Harry.

"Something stupid really, I had put some hair gel that day because we were going out and she made fun of me. Now I can clearly see what she meant, my hair was fucking ridiculous." He said as he let out a muffled laugh escape his parted lips, the first time I heard him laughing since his mother died. "I didn't want to take this photo, especially not after she said how terrible my hair looked."

It's strange how I don't know Isabella but I still feel like I have known her an entire lifetime. I know how Harry resents her, but I can't help but wonder what would she think if she found out about what happened to her family? If I was her, I would be feeling an immense weight on my shoulders after knowing my mom died. I can't judge her decision though, I have no idea what she went through even if I think I have an idea about what happened.

Harry is just hurt, but mostly he thinks he was the reason why Isabella left all those years ago, after he killed that man. In a way, I think it was one of the reasons why she decided to leave yes, maybe she thought her little brother was becoming someone else, someone like Howard maybe. Let's not forget she was also very young and going through a lot at the time.