Oblivion [H.S.]

F o u r t e e n

The ride had been quiet. Harry didn't know what to say, and Sophia didn't know what to say. Well, they did know what to say, but they didn't know how to say it, or if it was appropriate. Considering it was a long ride, it had been painful, and all-consuming. It was like they had always been silent, like it was natural for them. But it wasn't. Not at all. In fact, people often got annoyed when they were with Sophia and Harry because they were always so inconsiderate as they spoke, and oblivious to the amount of words that came out of their mouths.

Harry felt like he was giving up. On them, on the idea that they were actually going somewhere. Maybe they were going somewhere, but it certainly wasn't to the same place they had been. Sophia looked at Harry with worried eyes that searched for something. A look, a word, a sentence. Something that would tell her how he was feeling. This wasn't only hard for Harry, it was hard for her too. But she was still hopeful, and she wouldn't give up. Not yet.

"Harry," she breathed out, without really knowing what to say further. He moved his eyes from the city to his lap, swallowing. He wanted to speak, wanted to show her that he wasn't completely lost, even though he wasn't sure of it himself. She decided not to say any more, and moved close to Harry, wrapping her arms around his, leaning her head on his shoulder. Nervousity and insecurity ran through her veins as she sat there, but she felt like it was the right thing to do. And it was. Without hesitation, Harry pulled his arm out from her grip and wrapped both his arms around her, leaning his head on hers, letting teardrops run quietly down his cheeks. Sophia trapped his hands with hers, keeping them warm and calm. Seconds later they were both sound asleep, and sleep they did on the entire ride home.

~

"Excuse me."

Harry felt a nudge on his knee. His eyes opened slowly, tired and narrowed from the nap, and immediately looked outside. Sophia's house was exposed to Harry, and the sky was dark and starry. He looked at the taxi driver, and paid him for the ride. Sophia was still sleeping, laying softly on Harry's shoulder. Of course, Harry didn't want to wake her up, so he carefully stepped out of the car and took her in his arms, carrying her all the way to her bedroom, being quiet as he unlocked the door to her house and going upstairs. It was late, he figured. Grace and Joseph weren't up, the livingroom dark and mysterious, being lit up by the moonlight.

Sophia was light as a feather, as her eyelashes fluttered briefly for every footstep Harry took. Harry caught her twitching and flinching from time to time, like she was having a bad dream. He stopped walking and looked at her, admiring her, like he had done so many times before. Before he carried her into her room, he kissed her forehead, letting it linger there for a few moments. Sophia made a sound, almost like a pleasuring sound, but like a child. Smiling fondly, he opened the door to her bedroom with his elbow, going over to her bed. It was laid out neatly, and Harry was sure it was Grace that had done it before she had gone to bed. Sophia had never been too good at keeping things neat and tidy.

A laughter tumbled out of him. There had been a certain day at a certain point where Sophia had had enough of Harry's constant nagging, and started cleaning the floor so aggressively that she had slipped on the soapy water and fallen right on her bum. With the cleaning mop on top of her head. She still held a grudge against Harry because of how long and hard he laughed. Well, before the accident.

Harry covered her in her duvet, and even though he lay her down as carefully as he could, her eyes slowly opened halfway, and she looked up at Harry, who was still tucking her in neatly.

"Where are we?" She asked in confusion. Harry jumped a bit, startled at how suddenly she had woken up. Then he smiled and sat down on his knees, looking into her eyes, showing comfort and safety.

"You're home, love," he said and pressed the palm of his hand to her chin, fondling her ear with his thumb and pushing her hair to the side. She smiled shyly through closed eyes. Harry frowned. "I'm sorry about tonight, Sophia. I just . . I can't handle big crowds around me, I get anxious and . . Mad. But I shouldn't've taken it out on you. You don't deserve it," he said and caressed her nose.