Harlivy

Missing

I love sleeping with Harley every night. I love Harley. I love our quality time together. However, I also really love my alone time. Harley took that personally today when I said I wanted some space. I get it. I mean from a logical stand point I do. Her last relationship, if we can call it that, was not the healthiest. The man was a lunatic. The abuse Harley received was so bad sometimes she can't even talk about him without nearly losing her mind. Alone time with The Joker usually meant Harley was left for dead, prison, or God knows what.

I tried to explain to her that I was not upset with her and that she hadn't done anything wrong. I told her it was just one night apart. I promised we'd meet for breakfast in the morning. She agreed but I could tell she didn't really understand. I could see the anger and disappointment on her face. Still, to ensure that we create and maintain a healthy relationship, I left. If I would have stayed I would have been in a bad mood. Resentment would have had the chance to grow between us like an invasive weed. So to tend to the garden that is our love, I made sure to take care of myself too.

I try Harley one more time but she doesn't answer. A part of me wants to give in and go back to her place but I won't. I've set a boundary. I need to stick to it. I'll send her a text reminding her of our breakfast date before I go to bed. It's only a few hours. It's only a few hours.

Though, just to quiet the niggling insecurity gnawing away at me, perhaps I'll just check the security cameras at her place. Harley installed them after I had a science experiment go wrong. I was passed out for hours before she found me on the kitchen floor.

I pull up the cameras on my laptop and I find Harley in the den. She's practicing her knife throwing and eating cookies between every few throws. I try my luck and call her again. I watch on the screen as she checks her phone. She simply stares at the screen before tossing her phone to the side and goes back to knife throwing. Then suddenly as if she can feel me staring at her, she turns towards the camera and sticks her tongue out. It simultaneously makes me laugh and saddens me.

  My sweet girl. I'll make it up to her tomorrow. I'll feed her so many pastries she'll forget she was ever upset.

  I close the laptop and settle myself into bed. Only nine hours until we're reunited.

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  "Good morning Dr. Isley!" The young barista says as I walk in. You'd think I would try harder to hide being a wanted criminal and all but hey. A girl needs her coffee.

  "Good morning, Tina. How are you?" I ask. Tina might as well live here with how often she works.

  "Great! The usual?"

  I look around waiting to spot Harleys face but I don't. Even when my girl is upset, it's not like her to miss out on a chance to eat. "Yes, but hold off, Tina. I'm waiting for someone."

  "No prob, doc!" She nods and moves on to the next costumer.

  I take a seat near the back with the perfect view of the door. Two minutes pass. Five. Then ten. Still, no Harley.

  I take out my phone to call her and it goes straight to voicemail. She can't be serious. I call again. Same thing.

  A part of me wants to be upset, another part of me is telling me somethings wrong. I'll just check the cameras again to be sure. I pull it up on my phone this time. I check each room and nothing. Her bed is unmade and empty but I can't find her anywhere. Maybe she's just on her way. Her phone died so her alarm didn't go off. That makes the most sense in this situation. I'll just wait.

  "You Poison Ivy?"

  I look up from my phone to see who the scratchy voice is coming from. There are two men standing at my table. Both of them are sketchy looking. Possibly missing a few showers and a few teeth.

  "Who wants to know?" I ask.

  They exchange look. "How many green bitches you know?" One asks the other. He has a black eye. Looks fresh.

  The other one digs into his tattered trench coat and tosses a white envelope on the table. "That's for you, princess."

  Without saying another word, they both turn and make their way out of the coffee shop.

  When I'm alone again I immediately rip into the envelop. I'm met with pictures of Harley. She's half naked and tied up. A busted lip and bruises on her arms. The air in my lungs turns to cement. A note falls from the pictures.

Losers weepers. Finders Keepers.
You've had my Harley but you can't keep her
Bye bye, Pamela
-Mr. J

  I gather the pictures and the note as I move out of the door as fast as I can. I'm just moving. I'm not even sure where to go. I don't know what to do. What if he.. or.. oh my god. Harley.

My chest.

**To Be continued**