REKINDLED || Completed

38

🌸🌸🌸
Thirty Eight
🌸🌸🌸

Harry begrudgingly flipped the store sign, feeling like he should have been anywhere else.

With a sigh, he lingered by the window, watching the street as people bustled about, going on with their lives—oblivious to his restlessness.

"Harry."

At the sound of his name, he turned.

His frown vanished instantly. Yellow.

She tucked her dark hair behind one ear. "Can I get an espresso?"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course you can, kid. But c’mere."

Opening his massive arms, he welcomed her into a hug.

Asher. He loved her.

She made him feel like a father again after everything. She had become his priority. After God.

He had prayed—day and night—for her healing. She had been his prayer point for as long as he could remember, and every day, he asked God to change her life completely.

He served her espresso, slipping a few cakes onto the tray because he was almost certain she hadn’t eaten much. Or anything at all.

"I had cookies," she argued, shaking her head at the cakes.

"Just one, then," he grinned.

She hesitated before taking one, eyeing him warily.

Something about her seemed different. Lighter, somehow. But there was something else, too—something he couldn’t quite place.

"I should finish my project work today, then present it in two days," she said, taking a sip of her drink.

Harry nodded. "Take your time. We’ll celebrate when you get back."

"No, no celebration. What for?"

"For our soon-to-be graduate!" he cheered.

She rolled her eyes, and he thought she looked adorable.

"Please don’t."

"But we are celebrating your birthday," he nodded, matter-of-fact.

The smile on her face vanished.

His own faded instantly. "No, no, I didn’t mean to—"

"It’s fine," she interrupted, forcing a laugh. "I have to go, Harry."

She hopped off the stool, grabbed another cupcake, and bolted for the door.

"Bye."

---

Asher sat on the bus, replaying Harry’s words in her mind.

Her birthday.

She had never celebrated it before.

For a moment, she let the sickening thoughts creep in.

But strangely enough, they didn’t stay.

Her mind was at peace.

---

The last person Asher expected to pull her into a surprise hug that morning was Laramie.

"What are you…? Shouldn’t you be in the U.S.?" she stammered.

"I know," Laramie groaned. "I had my flight cancelled. Needed to sort out my projects and finish up fully."

Asher nodded, studying her friend’s face. She looked paler than she remembered. Her eyes, sunken.