Respite - HS

Snow? Snow.

Harry Styles

"Please just try?" Serena begs over the phone. 

I sigh pinching the bridge of my nose as I spin back in forth in my office chair. 

"Why now? Christmas is in two weeks, you guys won't even be there."

"H. You know I love you right?" Serena sighs, her voice getting emotional.

"Of course I do S."

"You can't keep doing this to yourself. Felix wants you to come too."

I pinch my eyes tightly shut in guilt at the name of my son. Serena monologuing in her sweet voice only making it worse. I know she's right. She always is.

"I know it's scary but we'll make it work. We always do. I love you, you know that right H?"

"How's he doing? Excited for christmas break?" I ignore her words along with the never ending memories of the last six years ricocheting in my skull. 

I hear her sigh and call for him, "Hi daddy!" His tiny voice brings a grin to my face. 

"Hi little man! I miss you so much, how was school?" 

"Good! I got a star in class, Miss Ruby said I did good today, with my participation." He speaks slowly as if he needs to listen to his own words to make sure they're correct before continuing.

"A gold star bud! Look at you! M'so proud of you!" 

My assistant gently knocks on my door and motions to the conference room behind him with a guilty look. I nod in acknowledgement before turning my attention back to Felix. 

"Hey Mr. can I talk to mummy real quick?" I try to mask the exhaustion in my voice. 

"Mmkay! Love you!"

"Love you! I'll see you on Friday!"

"H?"

"I have to go, getting last minute fittings in for the Met. I'll uh, I'll text you when I get home S." 

"Harry." Her voice stern. 

"Serena I know- I'm sorry okay? But I really do have to go." I go to stand up from my desk when she cuts me off.

"Harry, you cannot keep doing this. You're exhausted. You're not you anymore." She whispers the last part dejected. "You're working too much. I can't remember the last time you came over for dinner, this isn't fair to Felix. You promised me this wouldn't happen again." 

I freeze at her words, a flash of anger running through my veins before I give in knowing she's right. I run a hand through my hair, I should've been home an hour ago, I should've already been on holiday, I should've already gotten Felix. 

I'm so tired. 

I can't say anything in response, Serena knows she's right. She knows I  know she's right. Instead a sniffle breaks out, and all of a sudden I'm crumbling back into my leather chair. 

"Serena. I don't know what to do. I'm so sorry."  I choke out.

I hear her inhale, quickly brushing off her own emotions. "Lovie, big breaths remember? It's alright." 

It used to scare me how well Serena could understand me. She knows me so well, I used to think she knew me too much.  Serena and I dated in college, she helped me with my anxiety and she pushed me to pursue fashion design. After a few months we called it off, mutually agreeing we were far better off as friends. She really is my best friend.  Then maybe a week after we broke up she called me hysterically crying, we found out she was pregnant and well six years later we have the sweetest son on the planet.