Boy on the bench

Epilogue

I clutch the box of macaroons in my hand as I walk towards the park.

I know he won't be here. Still, it's worth the five minute journey everyday, just in case. I come here every day. Mainly because I want to tell Harry how much that afternoon changed me.

I remember the crushing disappointment of him not being here the first time I came back. I felt it for weeks, every day when I came back and he wasn't here I felt an ache, because somehow it felt like our short conversation that day wasn't complete. I hadn't heard everything he had to say.

As the weeks passed I became a regular in the park. What started with a nod of recognition became a hello, then a short comment on the weather. Eventually I began to talk to all of the characters Harry introduced me to. I got to know them as people, aware that without Harry I would never have looked twice at them. I would have seen them as beneath me, not worth my time.

I don't know where Harry went. I don't know why he never came back when he intended to. I've searched records for Harry Styles but weirdly none exist in our city. I just have to accept that I'll probably never know who he was.

I'm not saying I changed overnight. It started slowly. Seeing how Jessica slowly came of her shell when I wasn't snapping at her all the time. Jessica has blossomed since I stopped putting her down and started listening to her ideas, in fact my office has increased productivity since and more than that, she's become a good friend. I don't think I realised how lonely I really was.

As I walk into the park I spot Tracy playing with her kids. She looks cosy and warm in the winter coat I bought her, and I watch as she lets Marley place a daisy chain on her head. Last Saturday I took her and the kids to a sealife centre and it fascinated me how childlike her amazement was. Granted, she got all of the names of the fish wrong as she tried to tell the kids what they were but it amazed me just how much a little day out meant to her.

I walk past Dale and he shoots me a shy grin. I haven't really spoke to him much beyond the pencils and sketch pads I buy him when he needs them, but last week he surprised me with a beautiful portrait he'd done of me. I want to talk to him more, encourage him to think about art school, but today he's completely absorbed in his latest picture.

I stop to look at what he's drawing. I realise who it is and look up with shock to see them in front of me.

It's the couple that I saw all those months ago with Harry.  I cringe at remembering how I called the guy a stalker. They are strolling along hand in hand, totally wrapped up in each other. I smile to myself. Harry was right. Again.

Dale grins at my smiling response to his picture then carries on drawing.

I carry on my slow walk across the park, almost tripping when Joseph rushes past me on his way to the bakery, giving me a grateful nod. I know the £20 a week I give him isn't enough but he acts as if I've single handly saved the modern world from hunger. Now that I've taken the time to get to know him, I can see that kindness and humility radiates from him. He has the most generous, gentle presence of anyone I've ever met. I don't know how I couldn't see it straight away.

I carry on, stopping to talk to Thomas on the way. He always seems so grateful when I stop to talk to him that it makes me want to cry. Somehow his grief over his wife has eased since we asked the park to plant a flower garden in her memory and I'm trying to arrange a carer for him, maybe they can take him to some social events for the elderly, I think he needs that.

Finally I reach the two benches.

I remember watching these people the first time I came back. I didn't understand, I used to wonder why Joseph put in the effort he did everyday to help those less fortunate. It took me a while to realise that helping other people feels a lot nicer than hurting them.

And it all started with a 45 minute conversation with a stranger.

I sit down on the bench and take my time to look round the park. It's been 9 months since that first day I sat here.

I open the box of macaroons and lean back, closing my eyes for a second. I have a million things to do in the office today but just for now I want to enjoy the weak sunshine on my face. Life is full of precious moments and I'm slowly learning to appreciate them.

Suddenly a voice in front of me makes me jump;

"Lovely day isn't it?"

My eyes fly open in shock and for a long minute I think I'm dreaming.

Harry is beaming at me with the playful grin I've pictured all these months. I stare at him open mouthed, trying to articulate the million questions I want to ask. Where has he been? Why didn't he come back? In fact, who the hell is he?

I can't even speak, I just stare at him in shock. I honestly never expected to see him again. I need to talk, to tell him all the things he taught me.

Instead I slowly hold up the box of macaroons.

"Would you like one?" 

Harry gives me soft smile as he sits down next to me.

Fin

I just wrote this today because I was bored, I don't know where it came from but I hope you liked it. Please drop a vote if you did 😆

This is my shortest story but if you liked it then check out my stories which are all under my works.

The amazing artwork on the cover was drawn by incredibly talented IngaHansenN
You can check out her Instagram @ingahansenn and her tumblr http://ingahansenn.tumblr.com

Thanks for reading, all the love
R xx