Harper Brooke has a crush on Steve Andrews, the tall, handsome boy who just moved into the house opposite hers. She was happier on learning that he would join her high school soon.
However, a twist for Harper or tragedy for Steve struck.
Due to a n...
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Ever since the lockdown began, Harper has been breaking her rules meant to lead a productive and healthy lifestyle. Using her mobile phone first thing in the morning is banned.
Yet she surfed the net, scrolled down Instagram, liked pictures of her classmates being talented, and wasted time on YouTube recommendation videos. From cheesecake recipe to a cat slapping a seal to memes review by different people, Harper watched it all, clicking at random.
Then she watched travel vlogs hoping that one day their parents would take her somewhere outside of Athador for a week or two vacations.
At ten thirty, her empty stomach had reached its limit of begging for food. It forced her to put her phone down and head downstairs, still in her pajamas and dirty teeth. She ran her fingers through her messy hair and tied it in a ponytail.
Dizziness, a drop in blood pressure, weakness, and dehydration are a few side effects, to put it mildly. Harper is aware of the consequence of missing breakfast. Somehow she is becoming a bit lazier.
She walked through the kitchen and opened a cabinet. Cereal and milk require the least labor. She eyed the coffee container and shrugged. It's too much work at the moment.
Harper took her three-quarter filled bowl and walked towards the stairs when Harry let out a small scream. Turning around, she rushed towards the living room.
"What happened?"
"An ant crawled on my foot. It's itching a lot," he complained.
"Why are you pacing the living room anyway?"
"I'm waiting for mom and dad," he said and smiled. "You replaced me a bit. I'm the one who wakes super late on Sundays, not that ten thirty-five is considered super late on my account."
Harper sat on the couch and ate her breakfast. Both her mom and Harry have noticed a behavior change. But she decided to hide the insomnia she suffered from last night and listened to sad instrumental themes until her eyelids started drooping.
Then it hit her.
"What do you mean by waiting? Where are they?"
"They went to meet Steve. They were talking at breakfast. Mom is almost sure that he is sad. He may be feeling like a burden. One that he does not want to impose on us. Hence he refused to dine and apologized."
Her shoulders slumped, and her face remained downwards. She stirred the spoon around the bowl, not daring to eat, as a wave of grief smacked her. Steve is even kind on his bad days. Despite the loneliness and anguish, he is putting others first.
"It must be hard for him," she murmured, throat thickening. "His parents are divorced, his father is an awful man, and his mother is facing death every day. This virus is not sparing anyone, even if it is a qualified and experienced doctor."
