Solitude Grace

Chapter Two

The stream of sunlight peering through the blinds shot at Harper's eyes, burning them awake against his will. 

Almost immediately after becoming conscious again Harper jumped up from the bed and looked around, having to recall last night's events and then calming down.

A knock on the bedroom door sounded and he opened it to the frail woman who had offered him shelter.

"The bathroom is just down the hall and there should be a spare change of clothes in the wardrobe, my son was about your height." She instructed before turning around and walking off, a cup of tea securely in her hands.

"Excuse me, but may I ask your name?" The curiosity was getting the better of him, he scolded himself for it but didn't regret it.

"Gladis, now hurry up, breakfast is nine am sharp." She shushed him away.

Harper smiled at the woman as she turned her back, though being her age and her fragility, she was still strong and independent, he respected her.

Hiding those emotions, however, he walked to the wardrobe Gladis had told him about and searched until he found something he found comfortable. 

Walking out of the room, Harper started for the bathroom where he took a quick shower before drying himself up and slipping on the pair of jeans he had chosen, they were a loose fit but he had a belt for that. He then pulled on a shirt and shrugged on a black leather jacket.

He turned to the mirror, examining himself in the mirror, his normally smooth brown hair just reaching his neck unrully, his deep brown eyes sharp and alert. His sharp features screamed out to the mirror, he had the look of a warrior.

Walking out of the bathroom, he only faintly heard the woman shouting at him 'five more minutes!' before making his way to the kitchen.

As he rounded the corner in the small cottage to the kitchen, he was met by a ball of fur hissing at him, its fur sticking up on its back as its teeth became visible.

"Marbles! That's no way to treat a guest." Gladis tsked, looking at Harper she gave him a small smile. "It's good to see your punctual."

Harper nodded. He was always considered a man of little words, he spoke more with actions than anything else.

Gladis offered him a seat at her two person table and placed scrambled eggs and sausage before him, looking at him expectantly.

Harper grabbed the fork and started to eat. Admittedly, it was good, nothing like the fruits he had eaten in his old home, but it was from a woman who cared and that was why he enjoyed the meal.

"So what are you gonna do, boy? You can stay here if you like, I know you're not from here, I know everyone here." She sat across from him, eating her food, looking at him with curiosity.

Truthfully, she knew there was something different about him, he had helped her last night, any other fella from this town would have left her there to fend for herself, not this boy, he carried her all the way home without even breaking a sweat. 

Yes, he was definitely something.

"I appreciate your hospitality, I will repay you however." Harper knew he could not just stay here and take from the woman what he pleased, yet he also knew there was no way for him to earn an income within the next few days. Technically, he did not exist. 

"No need for payment, I have enough money." She shrugged, eating her eggs and avoiding his eyes.

"Then I will work. The tiles on your roof are failing, I will replace them for you. And the paint, I can redo that." Harper told her, thinking nothing of it.