In The Bird Song | TWD

Chapter 56 - Bloody Kisses

Harlow leaves at twelve sharp, worming her way efficiently through the cracks of buildings rather than the main street itself. On her way to the school's cottage, hoping to avoid the violating eyes of the towns people. the eyes that beseech into her flesh and crackle in her ears like a war cry as her mind rears itself to stand up to the obvious challenge.

So, Harlow keeps herself to the shadows, even if it is a luxury she can only indulge in alone. By the time she arrives at the garage doors beside the cottage they are yet to open and release the children from their gull. So, Harlow makes herself small as she stands next to the fellow waiting parents and carers, feeling absurd as a bug in a beehive amongst the put together adults.

her skin prickles. An itch, like a single continuous hair threaded beneath her skin, pulling her tight and winding her up. A bobbin about to break. Time spins her round and round, winding and winding, a malevolent mistress turning minutes into millenniums, seconds into centauries. All until the oven of the witch opens, and a dozen skipping Hansel's and Gretels come pouring out. She should have left breadcrumbs. She should have-

"Harley!"

Izzy. Harlow recognises her little girl instantly, and all contorted thoughts of breadcrumbs and bobbins are instantaneously forgotten. Like they never were. With a gasp, Harlow only just catches Izzy before the force of her hug sends both of them sprawling to the ground.

Beside them posy yips and yaps with a performative twirl, stealing the little girls attention away from her beloved guardian in a way only posy could. Once Izzy is done with her impromptu shower from posy, Harlow helps her up from the ground with a laugh, pulling her neatly into a second hug.

"Oh, I've missed you so much Izz-Bizz, I'm never letting you go again!" Harlow teases, causing the squawking girl in question to wriggle herself free from the older girls arms, blowing a strand of hair from her face with a huff.

"Harleyyy" Izzy groans reproachfully at the dishevelled state her forced escape has left her in, but her efforts achieve nothing except for garnering another laugh from a not at all sorry Harlow.

"My bad love," she eventually chuckles, tucking an offending strand of hair behind Izzy's ear, "I just missed you so much!"

And at that Izzy gives up pretending to be annoyed with a final huff and a reluctant "Missed you to."

And Harlow finds herself so content in that moment that she could drown in it forever and not complain. But of course, time keeps moving and she does not in fact drown.

"So, tell me little love, are you glad you went in this morning?" Harlow asks with poorly hidden worry, not that Izzy picks up on her nerves.

"It was amazing Haley, I love school! Love it! Love it! Love it!" She rambles, punctuating each 'love' with an excited bounce of her feet.

"You do!" Harlow cheers back happily, "Oh I'm so glad little love, I knew you would do great! I am so, so, proud of you!" the teen grins, only a little forced, Izzy's own joy infectious. The younger girl laughs loudly and hugs Harlow again with a warm "proud of you to Harley"

Inside, Harlow's chest aches with love. warm unbridled love. How could she have gotten so lucky? in the midst of a living hell, how did she manage to carve out a family as special as this one? With such an amazing little girl that has never shied away from her. Really though, she knows it is all thanks to Eliza, for passing down her own intrinsic goodness to her daughter. A goodness Harlow could never have taught her. Izzy is like her mother in nearly every way, whilst being just different enough where it counts. Just different enough to live, Harlow will make sure of it.