Window of Love

17х17 (October)

"You know that my train could take you home
Anywhere else is hollow
I'm begging for you to take my hand..."

Taylor Swift - Willow

Col: Pen

Col: Pen, please

Col: I just want to know that you're okay

Pen: ...

5 minutes wait

Col: Pen, I understand that you don't want to talk to anyone right now

Col: But I want you to know that I'm here, okay?

Col: If you just need anything...

Col: I'll be here

Pen: ...

Another 5 minutes wait

Pen: Thank you

*****

A little over two months had passed since their first kiss. A little over a month since he confessed his feelings to her. And now it all seemed so insignificant.

Because the day after Penelope's birthday, the grayest clouds covered the lives of both families. Colin and Penelope did not attend the planned celebration. No. Instead, all members of the Featherington family and members of the Bridgerton family were in the hospital.

Penelope's father was in a terrible car accident.

Doctors fought for his life for several days. Later, they put him into an induced coma and it became agony for everyone. Waiting to see if he will survive or not. They hoped for a miracle every day.

But the miracle never happened.

He fought for his life for more than a month. But the injuries received turned out to be irreversible.

Three days ago, Archie Featherington died in a hospital room at "London's Central Hospital", surrounded by family and friends.

Colin remembers Penelope leaving the room at one point, leaning against the wall of the corridor and just starting to cry. He remembers walking over and hugging Penelope and calling her to just dissolve in tears. This moment became the second most painful in Colin's life.

*****

Now Colin was sitting in his room and reading one "thank you" message for the millionth time.

He didn't know what to do. He so wanted to see her, talk to her, or even just hug her. Let her cry all her tears and sleep peacefully on his chest. He will do whatever she wants. Anything. He just wants to be close.

Unwittingly, this whole situation brought him back to memories of how his own father died three years ago under similar circumstances. A drunk driver crashed into his car. Colin remembers how the police came to their house and he opened the door. He didn't believe them until he heard his mother's sobs coming from behind him.

Colin knew what grief was. His whole family knew it. And they grieve to this day. The feeling of pain when you lose someone you love never goes away. But sooner or later you get used to this feeling and find ways to be happy again.

And that was exactly what Colin wanted to explain to Penelope.

*****