Backstage To My Heart [H.S]

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕 | 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧, 𝐁𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧

It had been weeks now, and the silence was louder than anything Ashley had ever experienced. Harry had disappeared into his world, leaving her with unanswered texts and half-hearted excuses when she tried to reach out. The first few days, she thought maybe he was just busy—caught up in the whirlwind of his career, the demands that came with being who he was. But as the days stretched into weeks, the doubt began to creep in.

What had she done wrong?

She replayed their last moments together over and over in her mind. The kiss had been perfect, hadn't it? The way he had pulled her close, the warmth of his lips on hers—it felt like everything she had wanted, everything she had been waiting for. She had felt it in her heart, in her soul, that he felt something too. But then, just as quickly, he had pulled away, and now it was as if he had vanished.

Ashley sat at the piano in her apartment, her fingers hovering over the keys, unable to play. The melody she had been working on for weeks lay unfinished, the notes scattered in her mind like broken thoughts. She couldn't focus. Every time she tried, her mind drifted back to him.

Why did he pull away?
Was it something she said? Something she did?

She leaned forward, resting her head in her hands, trying to push away the spiral of self-doubt that was threatening to take over. She had been here before—this feeling of uncertainty, of waiting for someone to decide if she was worth their time. It reminded her too much of her father, of the way he made her mother feel insignificant, unworthy. She had promised herself she wouldn't let anyone make her feel that way again. Yet here she was, waiting, doubting, hurting.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. She snatched it up, her heart racing, but it wasn't Harry. It was her mother, checking in on her as usual. Ashley sighed, sinking back into the bench, disappointed.

Her mind drifted back to the last time she had seen Harry, the look on his face after they kissed. She had seen something in his eyes—something deeper than just desire. It had felt real, vulnerable, as if he had opened up to her in a way he hadn't before. But then, almost immediately, she saw it change. His expression had shifted, and he had pulled back, both physically and emotionally.

Why?

The question gnawed at her, refusing to let go. She had tried not to jump to conclusions, but it was getting harder. The more time passed, the more she began to think that maybe he regretted it. Maybe he had only kissed her in the moment, and now he was pulling away because he didn't feel the same way. Maybe he realized she wasn't what he wanted.

Ashley stood up from the piano and paced the room, running her fingers through her hair. She couldn't keep torturing herself like this. She needed to talk to him, to understand why he had pulled away. But the fear of what he might say held her back.

What if he tells me it didn't mean anything to him?
What if he says it was a mistake?

The thought of hearing those words made her stomach twist, but not knowing was worse.

She grabbed her phone again, staring at his name in her contacts. Her thumb hovered over the call button, but she couldn't bring herself to press it. Instead, she opened their last conversation—messages she had sent days ago that he hadn't responded to.

Ashley (2 weeks ago): Hey, how are you? Haven't heard from you.
Ashley (10 days ago): Are you okay? We haven't talked since... that night.
Ashley (6 days ago): I'm starting to worry. Can we talk?
Ashley (3 days ago): Please don't shut me out, Harry. I just want to know what's going on.

Each message unanswered, each one like a tiny crack in her heart. She didn't want to be this person, the one who waited for someone else to make her feel whole. But with Harry, it had felt different. He had always made her feel like she was more than enough, like he saw something in her that no one else did. Until now.