𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘪𝘥𝘦 | 𝘖𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬 2 ✔︎

Chapter XVII - the Shadow in the Window

Three years later...

The door creaks open silently as Sherlock steps through it. His shadow illuminates the window looking into 221A. Upon seeing Sherlock, Mrs Hudson breaks the silence with her scream.

~~~

"Mrs Hudson," Sherlock says. They are sitting across from each other in 221B. A tray of tea, made by Mrs Hudson, sits beside her on the side table. Sherlock's legs are crossed and his hands are in a praying position. Mrs Hudson sits in John's chair, obviously disheveled at Sherlock's abrupt appearance.

"Sherlock." she says, "You're alive?"

"Yes." Sherlock nods. "I--"

"faked your own death." Mrs Hudson cuts him off. "Sherlock--how could you?!" her eyes are filled with rage and she is clearly upset. "Do you know all that we've been through--because of you? Not to mention poor John! Do you even realize what you've done to him? The poor man--couldn't get over your death, could he? You left him thinking he had lost his best friend and was all alone. There was nobody he loved more, you know. You were all he had. And you left him! You left us!"

Sherlock sighs. "Why did you do it, Sherlock?" Mrs Hudson asks.

"Moriarty would've killed you if I didn't. John, too. Everyone I loved." Sherlock casts his eyes downward, then shuts them.

Mrs Hudson's expression changes, only barely. A flicker of understanding and pity passes through her eyes. Eyes open again, Sherlock coughs.

"Speaking of John, where is he now?"

Mrs Hudson shakes her head. "I don't know. After you left... he moved out. I heard he found a nice girl--Mary Morstan."

Sherlock stands up. "Alright, thank you, Mrs Hudson." he walks to the door and grabs his coat.

"Wait, Sherlock." Mrs Hudson stops him. "How did you do it?"

Sherlock puts on a fake smile. "Why don't you ask Anderson? He has plenty of theories." Then he walks out of 221B.

~~~~~