stand here with me || h.s

25.

I am so very sorry for being absent. It's been...a rough week to say the least, but I cannot even thank you for all of your support. I read every single comment from the previous author's note and I just want you all to know, I see you. Each and every one of you. I may not have had the strength to reply, but I saw you and I appreciate you all so much.
And Kyra, I know I've been a big fucking downer and I'm sorry, but you were there every single second and I love you so much. You really are my best friend and I love you more than you can even COMPREHEND. Thank you, a million and one thank you's.

So...without any further ado...I present to you, chapter twenty-five.

Disclaimer: grab those tissue boxes and wine!

Twenty-five : Hallie

My body lay spread out on the Spanish tile next to Penny's dog bed. Her breathing was steady and she was sleeping peacefully, something she did more often than not. I heard Miles walking around, occasionally, he'd stop and I think maybe he was watching me. It's what he had been doing the past few days. Watching and worrying. I don't think he'd ever seen me this way, but then again, I'd never lost a dog before. I'd never had to make the decision on whether the suffering stopped or continued. I'd lost things...I lost him. That was brutal, but it was something I learned to move past. This though...this was breaking my heart. She was our girl. Penny was our girl. I don't think she had any idea, either. I don't think she could have known what was coming. It was Friday morning, around eleven when the knock on the door sounded through our home. Patch and Griffin went bounding to see who it was, but I had to help Penny up, it's like her limbs no longer worked. I walked as she limped next to me and I was scared. Terrified to see him. Terrified to watch him reunite with our dying first love. I heard Miles conversing lowly with him, but I couldn't hear him, not entirely. Penny did though. Her ears perked up and she moved as fast as her weak legs could carry her. She hobbled to him and he ceased his conversation with my boyfriend, collapsing down to his knees to catch her in his arms. She wasn't strong enough to remain standing, so he allowed her to kind of fall into his lap as he held her. I had been angry at him, for being absent from her life, from our dog's lives. I know it was silly of me, petty even...but seeing him now, seeing the dark, heavy crease in his brow as his eyes squeezed shut...I lost all anger. It fell away quickly because Harry was holding her and he was clearly hurting. Griffin and Patch fought for his attention and soon, he gave it to them, only briefly though. Then he stood up and he looked at me and it took my breath away. He had changed so much. He was taller. His hair was still long, tucked away in a low bun. He was still the most handsome man I had ever laid my eyes on. Still so fucking beautiful. Seven years had done wonders for him. He looked young and alive and I felt like I had aged a million years. "Hi Hallie." My emotions were running wild. Six and a half years since I had seen him. Around seventy-eight months. Approximately twenty-four hundred days.

"Hi Harry."

"Do you want a drink or anything? I just grabbed some Coronas..." I loved Miles for being so hospitable, any other man in this situation would have grumbled and showed their distaste.

"Sure, mate. Thank you." My boyfriend disappeared, leaving Harry and I alone. "S'been a while then, yeah?"

"Yeah." I tried to force a smile, but it was seemingly impossible. "How are you?"

"M'good, yeah, good. Are you...are you alright?"

"I'm...I'm hanging in there. I was doing really well, until all of this."

"Well, you look good, Hallie. Still as stunning as I remember." That comment alone should have had me weeping on my knees, but my composure was holding true to what I'd begged it to do.