PULSE [H.S]

027

"Sometimes the best way to help someone is just to be near them." — Veronica Roth

Harry's in a bad mood today.

I mean, a really, really bad mood.

This morning, I heard him downstairs, shouting on his phone about something. I've never heard him yell like that, so I stayed in my room. I was tempted to go to the stairs and try to listen to what was going on, but I was nervous that he would flip out on me if he caught me. I'm pretty sure he would have caught me, too.

A little while later, I heard a loud noise and then what sounded like glass shattering against a wall. It's a sound I'm too familiar with. I've cleaned up enough broken dishware to be able to know what just happened without seeing it.

I wouldn't say that I am scared of Harry, but I am scared to be around him when he is that pissed off. I've never witnessed him get angry enough to become physically aggressive, even towards an inanimate object. I'm not eager to find out what that looks like.

Since then, I've been doing everything I can to steer clear of him. I don't feel like being a punching bag for his mood swings today, and I have a feeling that's exactly what would happen if we crossed paths.

He slammed the door shut to his room a bit ago, and I take the opportunity to sneak downstairs and get something to eat while he isn't around. I make myself a bowl of cereal, sitting down at the counter to eat it somewhat quickly.

The snow is all gone, and we were finally able to get some groceries. And thank God, because I was starting to go crazy without any junk food around. I also snagged the parking spot that was promised to me, which he wasn't very happy about.

I feed Scrappy, giving her some canned food instead of her typical dry food. Harry got it for her, saying it has to be awful eating food that's so dry all the time. I didn't argue with him, but I think he's ridiculous. Scrappy meows in excitement as I dump it into her bowl, and I can't argue with the fact that she likes it more than the dry stuff.

I've never had a pet before, so it's still weird to me. I'm not used to having a little fluffy thing around that's completely dependent on me to survive. It makes me nervous sometimes, like what if I forget to feed her or she somehow gets out the front door and runs away? I'm never having kids.

I go back to my cereal, which is starting to get soggy. I freeze in my seat when I hear footsteps coming down the stairs. A few seconds later, Harry walks into the kitchen. He still looks pissed off, his face twisted in anger. I can practically feel the anger radiating off of him.

He looks like he wants to kill the loaf of bread that he takes out of the fridge. The deli ham also faces the wrath of angry Harry, and I find myself feeling some type of sympathy for the food. Everything he is doing just seems more aggressive than usual.

I go on my phone, checking my emails again, even though I know I don't have any. Not having social media really renders this thing useless unless someone needs me, and apparently no one needs me today. I just need something to focus on until he is gone, so I keep my eyes on the screen.

"What?" Harry's pissed-off voice makes me jump.

When I see his furious gaze fixed on me, I dreadfully realize he's talking to me. I cautiously say, "I didn't say anything."

"You're giving me a look," he spits out, gripping the counter so hard that his knuckles whiten.

I scratch my forehead, not really sure what I'm supposed to do here. His hard gaze is making me want to shrivel up and die, but I can't escape it. The green from his eyes is burning into my skull.