Labor Day (LS version)

Chapter 8: Reunited

The sun filtered through the leaves of the old oak tree in the garden, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Louis sat on the porch, watching Andrew, now in his thirties, play with his young daughter. Time had passed swiftly, yet the memories of Harry lingered in Louis's heart, vibrant and painful. He often wondered what Harry was doing, whether he had found peace after so many years in prison, or if he still thought of them.

"Dad, come here!" Andrew called, breaking Louis from his reverie. Louis stood up, stretching, and walked over to where Andrew sat with a stack of letters.

"Everything alright?" Louis asked, a smile on his face as he approached.

"Yeah, just going through some old mail," Andrew replied, flipping through the envelopes. "Oh, and I think you'll want to see this." He handed Louis a letter, its edges worn and slightly creased.

Louis's heart raced as he recognized the familiar handwriting. It was from Harry.

"Is it from Harry?" Andrew asked, excitement lighting up his face.

"Yeah," Louis replied, his voice thick with emotion. He opened the envelope carefully, his hands trembling slightly.

As he read the letter, memories washed over him—the laughter by the pond, the warmth of their shared moments, and the love that had blossomed in such a brief time. Harry's words were both a balm and a reminder of all that had been lost.

Dear Andrew,

I hope this letter finds you well. I know it's been a long time since I last reached out, and I'm sorry for that. I've thought about you and your dad every day since I left, and not a moment has passed without wishing I could be there with you both. The memories of the days we spent together keep me going, and I often find myself thinking about how happy we were in that little house by the pond.

In a few weeks, I will be released. I can hardly believe it myself. I don't know what the future holds, but I wanted you to know that I will always cherish the time we shared. I'm sorry for the pain I caused, and I hope you can forgive me.

I look forward to hearing from you, and I hope to see you and your father soon.

With all my love,

Harry

Louis's heart swelled with mixed emotions. He felt a surge of joy at hearing from Harry after all these years, but also an ache of longing and unresolved feelings. He glanced at Andrew, who was watching him closely, anticipation written across his face.

"What does it say?" Andrew prompted, a hopeful glimmer in his eyes.

"He's coming home," Louis replied, his voice thick with emotion. "He's getting released soon."

Andrew's face lit up, a smile spreading across his features. "That's amazing! We have to see him, Dad. He's part of our family."

"Yeah, he is," Louis said, feeling both excitement and trepidation. It had been so long. Would Harry still want him after everything? Would he have moved on? Louis had tried to move on himself, but the truth was, he had never had a serious relationship since Harry. The years had been filled with the memories of their time together, and no one had ever come close to filling the void that Harry left in his heart.

As the days passed, anticipation built in the household. Andrew was eager to reconnect, filled with dreams of reuniting with the man who had once been such an integral part of their lives. Louis, however, was caught in a whirlwind of emotions—love, fear, and the uncertainty of what their reunion would look like.

The morning arrived, and Louis found himself standing outside the prison gates, heart pounding with a mixture of fear and hope. He looked older, the lines on his face a testament to the years of heartache, but there was also a flicker of the man he once was.