the last time

part ten

wrap party night

Harry

I'm woken up by the sound of something breaking, followed by, "Shit!"

I sit up and I look around. It takes me a moment realize where I'm at and who said that. I rub my eyes and see Aurora sweeping up something by the sink. She hasn't noticed I'm awake so I just stare at her, trying to remember why I'm here, sleeping in her pullout couch. Then slowly, and unfortunately, it starts to come back. I remember Camille at my apartment, the words she told me, the bar, the rain. I try to connect it all and try to remember how I ended up here but I draw a blank.

She finally looks up and sees me awake. She throws away the broken mug and smiles softly at me.

"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."

I shake my head. I want to speak but when I start to say that it's okay, my throat aches. I clear my throat and let out a cough. Aurora approaches me with a different mug in her hands.

"Honey tea. I thought you might need it," she says.

I nod and take the tea, wincing as the hot tea makes its way down my throat. My head is pounding and the light coming in from Aurora's living room window is making it worse. Aurora must notice because she rushes over to the window and pulls the curtains closed. I take another drink of the tea then set it down at the coffee table. Aurora stays by the window, fidgeting with her hands and trying not to stare.

I clear my throat and say, "What time is it?"

"It's only 10am," she replies.

"How–why am I here?"

She sits at the other end of the pullout couch and shrugs, "You needed a friend."

I nod and run my hands through my face again, "How much did I tell you?"

"Pretty much everything."

"Oh god," I get up, tossing the blanket aside. I look down and realize this isn't even my clothes. I look around for my clothes and shoes. I pat my pockets and realize I don't have my phone either.

Aurora gets up too and walks away and into her room. She comes back out moments later with my clothes and phone stacked in her hands. She gives me a small smile and extends her hands out, handing me my stuff.

"I washed your clothes for you," she says, putting her hands in her back jean pockets. "I also charged your phone and kept it away in case you felt like calling her. Your shoes are lined up by the door."

I nod and go into the bathroom. My mouth tastes like a mixture of honey and liquor. It's making me nauseous. As soon as I shut the bathroom door, I rush to the toilet and puke. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and press my palms into my eyes.

"Fuck," I mumble. I flush the toilet then go to the sink and rinse my mouth. I take off the clothes I have on and put on yesterday's clothes back on. I turn on the sink and grab a handful of water and splash it on my face.

I start remembering why I came here. How I stumbled here in the rain and cried in her arms. The way she brought out warm clothes for me and set up an extra bed for me. I remember Aurora stroking my hair and staying beside me until I fell asleep. I take a deep breath and go back out to the living room. Aurora is pulling out ingredients from her fridge and the oven has pans ready to go on top of them.

"Uh, where can I put these?" I ask, gesturing to the clothes in my hands.

She looks up at me, "The hallway closet. There's a hamper in there."

I nod and go to the hallway closet. I open it and toss the clothes in the hamper then go and sit on a chair by the island. Aurora is whisking some eggs, not paying me any attention.