Sanctuary [h.s.]

Chapter Four

"I should've known it was strange

You only come out at night

I used to think I was smart

But you made me look so naive

The way you sold me for parts

As you sunk your teeth into me."

***

Olivia left today. Over the next seven days, she would immerse herself entirely into her work while indulging in the city of Paris, France. It was a big week for fashion and she lived for it. Our communication always suffered and became infrequent but she thrived amid the bustling schedule. Despite her consistent invitations, a lingering fear held me back, making me hesitant to accept. I worried about potentially becoming an obstruction in her busy and dynamic life.

So I dedicated the day to tidying up the flat and catching up on any of the overdue cleaning that required attention. The chores proved to be exhausting, consuming the majority of the day. A mixture of fatigue and accomplishment lingered in the air by the time evening arrived. The muted hum of the television played in the background, casting a soft, flickering light across the living room. I cozily nestled in a blanket on the couch, my pencil traced delicate lines on the pages of my journal, capturing fleeting thoughts and images that floated around the inside of my mind.

The peaceful atmosphere was interrupted as my phone began to ring, pulling my attention away from my sketches and back to the present moment. I lifted the device into view, noticing that the incoming call was from an unknown number, prompting a moment of hesitation before deciding whether to answer.

I pressed the answer button and brought the phone to my ear, "Hello?"

"Hello there," Harry's familiar voice greeted warmly, a smile evident in his tone, instantly bringing a sense of comfort and familiarity to the unexpected call.

A grin spread across my face as I responded, "What's up?"

It had been a few days since we last spoke and I was more than pleased to hear from him. Curiosity racked my brain over the reason behind his unexpected call.

"Are you coming out tonight?" Harry asked, his voice carrying the anticipation of a potential plan. Mumbled chatter could be faintly heard in the background.

"Uhm, I don't know. Where are you?" I responded, listening closely to the disruptions on his side of the call for a hint.

"The pub," He answered plainly.

"How are you calling me?" I pondered, recalling never seeing a phone inside of the establishment.

"The bartender's phone," He chuckled, "Enough questions, are you coming out or not?" his tone playful yet insistent.

I sighed, looking down at the Pyjamas that clung to my body, "I wasn't planning on it. Olivia's out of town so I was just going to stay in."

"I don't want to wait another week to see you," His tone bordered on a slight pout. I couldn't help but smile at the playfulness in his voice as butterflies swarmed my abdomen.

My head lolled onto the back of the couch, "I don't know, It's already so late."

He hummed in thought, "I could come to yours. If you're comfortable with that, of course. We could watch a film, play a game, talk. Dealer's choice."

"A movie would be nice," I mused aloud. The idea of a cozy movie night at home sounded increasingly appealing.

"Is that a yes?" Harry urged for a definitive answer.