Breaking Loose [Original]

13

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Thirteen
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Author: Another emotional chapter guys, brace yourselves! Happy reading!

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Asher smudged another streak of pink before setting down her brush.

She stared at what had become of her canvas, it took so much effort yet yielded nothing.

She was far from soothed by the piece, barely even understanding it.

She set it by the dumpster and returned to sit on the cold lonely park bench.

It had been so long she didn't even know and she felt so terrible. She had walked away from that store front, away from Harry. When his expectant eyes dulled, her heart felt stabbed.

What had he done??

Her guilt from that night and slight fear of Oren kept her away. She missed his coffee, his delicious cakes and light conversations. How he joked over everything and his bear hugs most importantly.

When she stood at the shop doors, he was closing up for the day. His employees went in and out of the kitchen whilst he manned the register.

She stood out for a moment, watching the seriousness on his face as he carefully calculated. He looked pent up, like there was more to that look than what he was doing.

Her hands folded into fists and she took the steps forward until she was inside. The bell had announced her presence before the whiff of caffeine hit her nostrils.

"So sorry, we're..." He looked up "closed... Asher"

She remained in that spot, the room growing wider. He felt so far away and it made her eyes fail.

He remained in his spot too, the concern on his face stirring her guilt.

"What did I do? Tell me and I promise I'm sorry"

Her vision clouded and he rushed over to pull her into his huge arms.

Asher didn't know how long they stood that way, nor did she care. All she knew was that she was satisfied being held that way, that she'd really needed that shoulder to cry on, that perhaps all the emotions and weight she held on her shoulders all needed to be poured out that night.

The others had clocked out but they were still in that hug. He ran a hand down her head and again and it soothed her pain.

When she pulled away and met his eyes "Harry, I'm a terrible person"

They talked that night.

Asher told him everything.

She realized if she died eventually, she would love that Harry would be the one who knew her the most.

"I cannot believe any of this" he admitted calmly whilst he stroked her hand

"I know, right?"

"I don't get it, why would you keep all this to yourself for this long? I've been here for you and there wasn't a need to feel unsafe about it unless I made you..."

" You didn't...I promise. It's just, so hard to...trust people these days,"

He understood. " I know. But yellow, there's still some good in the world, it's little but it's there you know, and somehow the Lord brings special people around because He knows we can't know who is really on our side,"

Asher played with the skin around her nails as she let the words sink in.

To her, no one was good. Nobody could be trusted, not when the very man she looked up to as a father put her through hell growing up.