The Life We Live

16.Sunset

As Raven walks into Harlows house she doesn't find him there.

"The hell did he go?" She says to herself

She scrambles around the house even looks down in the basement and doesn't find him.

Her heart rate rises quickly and she starts to stress out as she has absolutely no idea where he could be.

She walks outside "what if he's at the playground."

She starts running.

Once she gets to the playground she sees Harlow on the swings by himself. Raven sighs in relief.

"Well you look terrible." She says as she walks towards him

He looks at her and smiles "wouldnt be surprised if I did."

He looks down still smiling then looks back up at her. "Do you think life is worth living?.."

Raven raises an eyebrow "what do you mean."

Harlow laughs "not like that... I mean like living it without knowing about it.. or perhaps while knowing about it?"

Raven tilts her head and thinks about it "well.. I dont know. Maybe both I guess."

Harlow looks up at the sky "I guess you're right. I just think that knowing about it would spoil the experience.. but also having knowledge I guess would make you be able to answer the questions you don't know."

Raven smiles and nods "we should go do something..."

Harlow stares at her not speaking, his puffed up eyes reveal that he most likely wasn't able to sleep. His messy blonde hair all knotted and raggedy. His tan skin was pale he had looked like he hadn't slept in days. Even though it was just the previous day.

Harlow speaks "you know.. I could see her death coming from a mile away. I just didn't..." Harlow struggles to speak "I just didnt.."

Harlow falls off the swing putting his hands on his head.

Raven runs towards him and bends down next to him "its alright if you can't say it Harlow... I know what happened."

Harlow doesn't looks up. But its clear that he heard her as he stops struggling to speak. He just breathes.

Raven questions herself if she should tell him about McCray and what he had said. But she hesitated as she didn't want to make matters worse.

Harlow finally looks up "im tired again.."

He gets up and starts walking. Raven quickly grabs his arm "oh no you dont!"

She pulls Harlow towards her alittle too hard as his face slightly touched hers. They stare at eachother feeling eachothers breath.

Raven backs up from Harlow "sorry... but you aren't going back to bed."

Harlow looks down and nods "alright then... what do you want to do?"

Raven smiles "let's go on a hike."

Harlow squints his eyes "a hike?"

Raven nods laughing "you know what a hike is right?"

Harlow laughs "of course I know what a hike is."

Raven tilts her head.. "well let's go then."

Once they get to Ravens house she goes in her house to ask if they could borrow the truck.

But Raven stops in her tracks and sighs "he's too busy to even know or answer."

"Does he know my mother had died?" Harlow curiously asks

Raven nods

They throw themselves into the truck and drive to a hiking spot.

Once they get to a hike spot they start climbing. They don't necessarily speak they just look.

Once they get to the top it was sunset. They stand there staring at it alittle out of breath from all the hills they had to walk up.

"Atleast the hike was worth it.." Raven says

Harlow sits on a rock and continues looking at the sunset "this is what my mother was talking about.."

Raven looks as well and smiles "she does have quite a point.."

Harlow gets up and grabs a lily out of the grass and walks back to Raven.

"This was her favorite flower." He says looking at it

Raven admires the flower "they are beautiful flowers aren't they?" She goes to grab one, but before she does Harlow grabs her arm gently.

Raven turns around as Harlow puts the flower in her hair and fixes it so it stays.

"There we go." Harlow says quietly

Raven touches the flower and looks at Harlow blushing a little.

Harlow sits back on the rock looking back at the luminous sunset. "Just thought you could have it."

Raven smiles brushing her hair behind her ear and grabs one.

She walks back to Harlow and puts one in his hair "well if I get one you get one."

Harlow laughs "it was meant only for you but this works too."

They look at the sunset lowering as the sky slowly turns reddish purple. "Its beautiful isn't it.. just earth showing its beauty.. I wish more people could slow down a bit and take a look at it sometimes..."

Harlow looks at Raven "not nearly as beautiful as you though."

Raven quickly looks at Harlow who looks at her, she smiles.

Suddenly she stood up a little flustered "we should get back."

Harlow sighs and they start walking back.

As they head back Harlow quickly speaks "I'll continue searching for the meaning of life.. but only for my father.."

Raven nods "that's okay"

Harlow frowns a little "but I'll need a little time... my mind isn't working with me very well right now.."

Raven smiles.. "take all the time you need. My grandfather seems to be having struggles deciphering the box.. so I think you're alright."

Harlow nods smiling "I guess that's good for me."