Breaking Loose [Original]

32

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Thirty Two
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Asher didn't quite reason what she'd look like when she ripped the plaster off her face barely a week and three days after discharge.

She hated that it stuck there; it was an oddity and she pretty much had every right to pull at it.

She beheld her face without it, and her haunted reflection stared back, the four and a half inch long scar adding a savage look to her appearance.

Everyone looked at her longer than usual when she was on the streets again.

Her knees ached with each passing minute standing in the freezing cold. She searched her pockets for her Ventolin case and sighed in relief when she found it.

Where is he? She wondered, peering ahead into the barren road for any signs of Harry's truck.

It was barely six thirty, the clouds remained a thick grey across the sky. It was sickeningly quiet. A spitting contrast to the ongoing turmoil in her head.

She dug her fists deeper into her jacket and pulled her lip between her teeth to stop it's chattering, it was so cold that day.

When a familiar black truck approached, she straightened off the wall and made quick steps towards it.

"Yellow"

"Hey" she murmured when her back hit the leathery backrest.

For a moment she felt his gaze and rolled her eyes before meeting it  "What?"

"You took it off" he frowned as he eyed the dark scar on her cheek

She turned away with a shrug  "So?"

"It's not fully healed yet"

"I can't wait that long. It'll heal eventually..." Or not.

Harry remained quiet before reaching an arm in her direction, she flinched away at first earning his apology. For a second there she didn't understand what had just happened.

"I wasn't going to hit you" he assured and she nodded

"It's reflexes. Sorry"

He took her hand and squeezed it gently   "You'll be fine"

She met his smile and found solace in it.  "Okay"

--

Asher waited patiently whilst Harry whipped up breakfast at the back.

They were the only ones there that morning because the day's shift hadn't begun yet.

It didn't take long before the scent of fresh bakes wafted across the room. There was a light steady hum coming from the speakers...a tune she was rather disinterested in.

When he came back upfront, she sat straight in anticipation as she could not longer hold back her hunger.

He set down a fresh batch of cupcakes and a cup of hot chocolate and she frowned.

When she looked up at him, he shrugged  "I'm not feeding your addiction any longer, yellow"

Her frown deepened.

" It's what's best"

"Since when do you keep what's dear to me away from me?"

He chuckled  "That coffee helps in the moment doesn't mean it's dear"

She lowered her gaze and flicked at a cupcake, making it flip over.

She relished the tiny bit of satisfaction she felt.

" I haven't had coffee in days..."

" You expect me to believe you?"

" Yes?"

" Yellow, you have a coffee maker, that I bought you"

She forced out a groan  "That doesn't mean I use it everyday, duhh..."

The older man raised a brow before leaning forward on his elbows they were same eye level. The fondness in his beautiful eyes and youthful smile made her bite back a smile.

"Why are you looking at me like a creep?" She murmured when she used a hand to hood her eyes and concentrate on her cakes.

He snorted   "You sometimes remind me of Rachel"

With that she met his eyes, the fondness was still there, that and something a shade darker.

"She was stubborn over silly things. Wanted a car at sixteen, could you believe that?"

Asher pouted  "I'm not stubborn"

"Okay" he straightened, when the doors opened.

His employees had arrived and he had to drop her off at school even when she kicked against it.

"It's really not a problem, yellow. I actually feel bad for not doing this back then," he kept saying and she just couldn't argue anymore.

"It's Friday today" He spoke up when they just arrived at school and she mentally groaned.

So much for thinking he'd forgotten.

"And?" She played dumb

"Do you want me to swing by and pick you up?"

"Where?"

He eyed her with that  'you're stalling' look and she rolled her eyes.

"I'm not going, Harry. I already made that point clear from the start"

"Yellow..."

"I'm done with this" she unclasped her seat belt and made for the door.

Harry watched her leave wordlessly, the burden in his heart only grew.

He felt unaccomplished in not being able to convince her.

Not by your strength.

A voice he knew all too well reminded him and he quickly felt at ease and sorry for not leaving God room to do His will.

"Father, if it be your will" he prayed solemnly and took a calm breath.

If God was going to do something big in Asher's life, it was necessary for him to trust Him enough to.

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