Forgotten

Chapter 10 ~ Continuum

I was wrapped in Harry's arms when George and Imogen came home - they'd been working on the farm all day. They had no idea about Logan. Harry and I were in my bedroom, squeezed together under the covers of the small bed. The walls in the house were thin, so I heard every word that came from the kitchen.

I heard the fridge open. "Where's Mia?" George asked casually.

I heard Kaleb pause his Xbox, but it was Liz who replied, "Logan passed away today."

I heard Imogen's gasp, and George closed the fridge. "Oh no, oh no," Imogen repeated, and I could picture her pacing the kitchen with her heart on her chest.

Harry shifted his weight beneath me, but not in a way to suggest he was leaving.  He moved his arm and softly traced his fingers down my bare arm, sending tingles all through my body. I shivered and he smiled, then kissed my forehead, but said nothing.

"That sweet boy," Imogen was saying, "That poor sweet boy. So young."

"Poor Mia," Liz offered. "She's just lost her whole family, and now her nephew too."

"Is she here?" George asked. He hadn't asked anything else the entire time; he didn't know how to deal with these situations. He stayed quiet on his thoughts, fearful he might say something wrong.

Liz answered. "She and Harry are in our room - said she was going to sleep. She's..."

Liz didn't finish her sentence, and she didn't have to; I assumed that it would have been obvious to Imogen and George what she wanted to say - that I'm an emotional mess.

"It's good Harry's with her," Imogen said. "I'll go check on her."

I tensed up straight away, and Harry soothed me, lightly brushing his knuckles back and forth across my cheek. "She's alright, babe."

Imogen gently opened the door, not bothering to knock. She came into view, and then I saw her gloomy face and I started to feel worse. I'd had enough sadness for a lifetime; I didn't need more of it - Harry had tried all day to be as positive and happy as possible, hoping it would lift my spirits, and to some extent it did. But Imogen's sad face just made me feel worse. It confirmed the sadness.

"Oh, Mia," were her first words to me. She rushed over to the bed and knelt on the floor. She didn't mind that Harry was between us. She leant over him and kissed my forehead, just as my tears were starting up again. "I'm so sorry."

I nodded, willing her to leave me alone with Harry. I didn't want to talk about it. I just wanted to be with Harry.

But Imogen continued, "He lived a good life, sweetie. A short one, but a good one. He was surrounded by his family, those he loved. Be happy that he had good days."

This had been Lauren's motto: we just have to let him live a good life.

But that doesn't, in any way, quell the pain. Right now I needed to mourn, not figure out how to get over it. I just wanted to cry. I didn't want people to discourage that.

I closed my eyes in defeat, feeling a flood of tears leave my eyes.

Imogen seemed to take the hint. "Is there anything I can get you?" I shook my head no, so then she asked, "Harry? Do you need anything?"

Harry replied, "Uh, no thanks. I'm alright."

Imogen stood and placed her hand on Harry's shoulder. "Thank you for being here for Mia." Then Imogen finally left, closing the door behind her.

I released the sobs that I'd been holding back. I hid my face in Harry's shirt, wiping my eyes with it and the blankets. Harry held me tighter, and tried to soothe me, but I was beyond any of that. I needed to cry. It was the only way I could handle this much grief.