Italy In The Spring [h.s]

10

With each step that he takes towards me, the more the fear inside of me grows. And it's not fear of Harry... it's fear of what I know is about to happen. Because I can see it in his eyes and the way it's written all over his face.

"Harry," I whisper and start backing up, shaking my head at him and begging him with my eyes to stop. "Don't."

It's as if he doesn't even hear me, still taking long strides towards me as I continue to back away from him. Even when my back hits a wall and I can't get any further from him, he never stops. His eyes look like he's in a trance, his mindset on getting closer to me until there's no space left between us.

"Harry," I say a bit louder, only six steps away from me.

Three.

"Stop, Harry."

Two.

"Harry," I speak more harshly and he stops in his tracks.

If either of us were to move an inch, our skin would touch. His warm breath fans across my face as he stares down at me with hurt flooding his eyes, tears drawing stripes down his cheeks. I stare back up at him with the same emotion suppressed behind my gaze, holding my breath so I don't give in to the way he smells like home.

Electricity sparks around us and I try my best not to give in to the urge of wanting to wrap my arms behind his neck and tug him into me. The sound of blood rushing through my ears makes my head foggy, keeping my back pressed firmly against the wall.

"Why did you have to leave me after I begged you to stay?"

I close my eyes and shake my head, trying to rid my mind of those last words he spoke to me.

"Stay with me forever."

"Don't leave. Stay with me here."

"Flower. Please. I love you."

I open them again and almost collapse on the spot.

"I was ready, Aurora," Harry whispers. "I was ready when you came to me in Paris. I was ready to be yours again."

My head shakes on its own accord, tears streaming down our cheeks while I stand in front of him in denial. And he stands in front of me with his heart in his hands.

"You said you weren't ready."

"I lied."

An unexpected sob leaves my lips and his bottom lip trembles, "You said we still needed more time apart."

"I lied."

"You said you still weren't fixed."

"I lied, Aurora," he breathes and takes my face into his hands. "I didn't mean any of that."

"Why? Why did you say those things if they weren't true?"

He releases a deep breath and steps closer until our chests meet, "Because it was what you needed to hear. You thought you weren't ready, but you were, Aurora. You had changed in all the right ways and you just couldn't see it."

No. He's wrong. I still needed to change. I still needed to grow.

But did I?

That year, I had been happy. Not completely, but I had found a way to be happy on my own. Liam and I had barely been talking at the time, so I was practically on my own. I found myself smiling again without anyone being the reason behind my smile. I was doing just fine on my own.