the long way home [ h.s. ]

Twenty Six | 26

twenty six | 26

☓

For a while, nobody says anything.

We just stand together in the middle of the breezeway with our hands connected. I feel like a statue as I shift my gaze back and forth between them, the overwhelming feeling of happiness casting a glow over us.

It's Harry who breaks the silence first. He crouches slightly and sticks his hand out for Thomas to shake, his voice smooth and gentle just as always; deep and with a slight rumble to it, like the ocean.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," he says.

Beside me, Thomas grins and accepts the gesture. I notice how different their hands are, as his tiny one is completely enveloped by Harry's, and it makes me smile.

"P-pleasure to meet you, t-too."

My parents and I have something we call the "stutter face." We use it to describe the expression people get the moment they realize about his speech impediment; where the smile falls slightly, eyes squinting in speculation, followed by a questioning glance at one of us.

I know that a lot of people probably can't help it. They don't mean to be offensive, and are simply having a physical reaction from the surprise. Even still, it's almost funny to see the same thing happen over and over again.

But not Harry.

As I look to him, with his giant smile and glimmering green eyes, and the words leave Thomas' mouth in their complete imperfection--

Nothing changes.

He just grins wider.

The sight of it does something in my heart-- I suddenly feel everything else seem to cloud over, and all that exists is him. Standing here, in my home, looking at my little brother like he's the most incredible person he's ever met.

And I wonder if he ever looked at Elliot this way.

I'm sure that he did.

A slight sting comes to my eyes, but it's only there for a moment; gone before anyone can notice, which I'm grateful for. I don't want someone to look at me and think that I'm sad.

It's the complete opposite.

"Thomas, I hope you weren't planning on staying home this afternoon," I say enthusiastically. "Because it's only 4:15, and I thought it might be fun if we went to the lake. I haven't taken you there in a while."

He looks up at me and smiles, smoothing out the thin creases in his sweater.

"Is H-harry c-coming with us?"

Beside me, he stuffs his hands in his pockets and nods.

"If you want me to."

"G-great!" Thomas chirps, running back upstairs to grab his coat and boots.

Harry and I look at one another and laugh, and I ask if he'll be okay in his jacket, to which he says yes. I decide to grab one of mom's coats for myself, just in case my red zip-up sweater isn't enough.