Sunshine (Harry Styles)

one

CHAPTER 1

Present Time

I sit now in my old, oak chair, gently rocking back and forth, the wooden floor creaking as I do so. I'm currently knitting a wool scarf, for winter is around the corner, and it'll keep someone warm. I would keep it for myself, it's turning out beautifully, but nowadays I don't get out much. It's hard on my back and legs just to stand and walk around the house.

I can hear the clock ticking against the wall. I look up at it, and see that it is now 5:30 P.M. I'm expecting my granddaughter, Chloe, to drop by, with her new boyfriend.

Chloe is a freshman in college, a very smart girl she is. I'm so proud of her. I'm sure she did well, picking a man out for herself.

Suddenly, the doorbell rings, making me jump. That must be them, I tell myself, hauling my 87 year old body out of my rocker. I grab my walker from beside the table, and begin to walk to the door with it, as fast as my decrepit body can manage.

I reach the door, unlocking it and opening it with a twist. On the other side stands a smiling Chloe, her black hair falling over her shoulders. She's wearing a pink tee shirt and some denim cut offs. If I had worn an outfit like that at her age, I'd have been skinned alive.

Next to her, stands a tall, lanky boy, looking about Chloe's age. He has brown hair, grown out to his shoulders. I look at his face. Hideous rings cover his bottom lip, as well as his eyebrow. I struggle to keep myself from gasping. On his arms, chest, and neck, dark, swirling tattoos cover his skin.

I'm completely taken aback, but I force a wrinkled smile, anyway.

"Grandma Sonny," Chloe smiles, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around me. "It's so nice to see you." I wrap my frail arms around her tall figure, telling her it's nice to see her as well. She pulls away.

"This is Mark," she says nervously, gesturing to the boy in the doorway. "My boyfriend." At her introduction, Mark steps through the doorway, and holds out a tattooed hand to me. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he tells me, his voice smooth and deep. I shake his hand, smiling up at the tall man.

I gesture for them to follow me into the den, after Chloe shuts the door. I sit back down into my wooden rocker, and Chloe and Mark take a seat on the couch across from me. I notice they sit very close to one another, their hands intertwined. They seem to honestly be in love.

"Where did you meet one another?" I ask, smiling, as I reach for the scarf I'm knitting to continue my handiwork.

"I met him in a college class," she answers me, a small smile on her lips as she looks up into the boy's eyes. "I just brought him home to meet mom and dad last weekend," she continues. She and Mark exchange a nervous glance. "They don't seem to like us together, though." She states as she stares silently at their joined hands.

I understand where her parents, my daughter and son in law, are coming from when they say they don't like them together. Mark and Chloe are obviously two very different people. He's covered in tattoos and piercings, his hair long and unruly, while Chloe has not a single mark of ink, or hole in her body other than the piercings in her ears.

However, I believe that if what they share is truly love, her parents should let them be. It seems that that is the case.

I sigh, leaning my head against the back of my rocker. A small smile plays at my mouth, as I reminisce on the days when I was young. That was so long ago, the days when I could run, I could jump, and my voice didn't sound so harsh and choppy. Those were the days when I was beautiful. Those were the days... That I fell in love.

"You two remind me of myself when I fell in love. My parents didn't like him one bit," I say to them, finally lifting my head from the back of my chair.

Chloe looked confused. "Your parents didn't like Grandpa Liam?" she asked me, astonished. I laughed aloud. "Of course they did. I'm not talking about Grandpa Liam," I tell her. Her eyes go wide as she continues to stare at me.

I feel relieved in a way, to let all of this information out, after keeping it in so long. I've never told anyone about him.

Until now.

"W-Who, then?" she asks, curiosity glinting behind her eyes. She's always been just like me, curious. Prying for more information.

I slowly stand up, grabbing my walker from beside me. I wobble over to the china cabinet next to the window overlooking the apple orchard next to my small house.

I slide open a heavy mahogany drawer, beginning to sift through the clutter I haven't laid eyes upon in years. Finally, I find what I was looking for.

I carry the photograph over to Chloe and Mark for them to hold and examine, and go to sit back down. A small smile crosses Chloe's face as she looks over the black and white picture, the only one I have of the boy.

"What's his name?" Mark asks, speaking for the first time since our introduction at the door. I glance at the floor, and shakily swallow. I can't believe I'm taking to my granddaughter and her boyfriend about him, after all this time of telling no one.

"Harry," I say, smiling at how his name comes out of my mouth. "His name was Harry Styles." They nod at me expectantly, urging me to go on.

"This might take awhile," I say. Mark grins. "We've got time." He looks at Chloe with an adoration that could only be described as love.

Chloe nods in agreement at her man's remark.

"Well," I began. "It was 1912...."

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First chapter, yay!

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