Harry didn't like admitting how much his parents were disappointed in him for not choosing a more professional route - for the lack of a better term – when it came to school. Once he entered high school, he was set on opening a bar in a cool part of town where small artists can perform, and people can have a lax time after a long day of work. His parents disapproved of the idea. They spent the next few years of his high school career trying to convince him into something else, but Harry didn't budge. He was set on it. So serious with his dream and he knew he'd do whatever he must to achieve it.
It didn't take terribly long for Harry to open his own bar in London – 3 hours away from Holmes Chapel, 3 hours away from his family, 3 hours away from all he knows. He wanted to build his own life, even if it was alone and far from the people who loved him but didn't offer an ounce of support. It wasn't an easy move for Harry. Being a man so attached to his family despite their last few arguments, it was extremely difficult to leave it all behind, especially his sister. Even if she was the golden child. Gemma always excelled in school, always in all the extracurricular activities the school offered. It was truly no surprise to any of them when she decided to pursue medicine.
Gemma was always on Harry's side no matter what their parents said or refuted with. She was there and Harry had loads to thank her for.
She was the push he needed to leave Holmes Chapel and follow his dreams wherever they took him. So, he landed in London. Harry attended a bartending academy that lasted about 4 weeks before working an insane number of hours at various bars for a few years to save money. Man did Harry work. Given that his parents didn't support his academic choices, Harry had to save a lot of money if he wanted to open his own bar. He had no social life, no love life, just... no life.
Harry knew it paid off. All those restless hours working to fund his savings, learning the tips and tricks of making a bar fun, laidback, and safe all at once. Before he knew it, Harry found an amazing area to build his bar from scratch. There was an open lot right beside a plaza, selling the land for building and Harry knew that was his spot. Contacting everyone he needed and the whole building process took about a year. Another 6 months to hire everyone for all the positions he'd need and soon enough, his dream was coming to life.
On his 29th birthday, Harry held the grand opening. Gemma, all the friends he made along the way (very few, quite frankly), the bar owners he got close with, the people he invited online once someone suggested he should open an Instagram for his bar – it was a great opening. He didn't expect so many people to show up, but he was so eternally grateful.
But it was devastating to see his parents didn't come, they didn't even reach out to him to tell him they wouldn't come.
The conversation with Gemma right before the opening replayed in his head for about a week, wondering what he ever did wrong to upset his parents. All he wanted to do was open his own bar, achieve his dreams of owning a place where people could unwind and have a good time. Nothing else made sense to Harry. Anyone would think he was settling to be a lowlife with no job for the rest of his life.
--
Harry wiped the granite bar countertop with a frown on his face, eyebrows furrowed as he sighed exasperatedly. Seriously, what could be so terrible about opening a bar? Harry could be out dealing drugs, an alcoholic, causing problems within his family. That would be something that shouldn't be supported. But why? Why not support his dreams of wanting to own something for himself?
"Do you think they'll come? Gem, they didn't even reply to my messages. How – I just... I hope they come."
Gemma felt terrible for Harry, she did. She was thankful her parents have been there for her throughout her career otherwise she wouldn't have made it but seeing how opposite they were with Harry often upset her. Gemma would always bring it up to their mum, earning herself the same response as always from her. "It's not a real career, Gemma. He can ask for our help when he realizes that for himself."
