Broken Charms

Can't Let Go: Part One

“Let's start a new tomorrow, today.” 

― Neil Gaiman, Anansi Boys

Harry.

Deciding not to give up on her and not let her go was almost too obvious for me that the moment I landed in Athens I felt relieved like I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing. I’ve broken tons of promises and done things I’m not proud of but now being here I was determined not to let her go. She was my lucky charm and I was going to be there for her no matter what.

As soon as I stepped out of the airport the warm air around me consumed me. We were in the middle of November and the air was warm against my skin. In London the weather was so cold but it felt like winter was too far away. No wonder Astrid was always wearing too many layers of clothes to keep her warm.

I decided it would be a good idea to stay at a hotel this time since I had come here unannounced and I didn’t know if I could stay at her place. after checking in and going to my suite I took a few minutes to gather my strength and pull myself out of my jet lacked state. The television was already and the presenter was speaking in Greek words I couldn’t possibly understand.  I had catch Astrid talking on the phone a few times with her dad and seriously it sounded like a different person was speaking. From what I could gather from the pictures and videos showing the presenter was talking about our upcoming live performance here in Athens. The decision was so sudden I was still shaken that the management chose the Lycabetus theatre for us to perform acoustic versions of our songs and record them for our live album.  This time it would be just us. Niall would be playing guitar and we would just sing, No dancers, no back up instruments, nothing, just us and the guitar. Exactly how we started.

I switched off the television and headed out of the hotel. It was time to pay a visit to Astrid.

The moment the taxi pulled into a stop I was overwhelmed with emotions. It had been too long since I came here. The first I came here I was so eager to see her to spent time with her since we had just made up and now that eager was still evident. I wanted to tell her that I’m going to be there for her that I wasn’t leaving that no matter what had happened between us. I knocked on the door. A few seconds later Astrid’s mother stood in front of me.

“hey, Mrs. Williams. Is Astrid home?” I asked. I felt like I was fifteen again.

“You’re Harry, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I replied and looked at her eyes. Her eyes bared a clarity that wasn’t evident the last time I came here.

“Come in. don’t stand there in this cold weather.”  I entered and was welcomed by Marian with a warm hug.

“How are you, my dear?” she said sweetly.

“Very well. Thank you. Is Astrid home?” I asked hoping that she would answer me. Her eyes trailed behind to Mrs. Williams and then back at me. she opened her mouth to speak but Mrs. Williams spoke first.

“Astrid doesn’t live here anymore.” She said simply.

“Why?”

“It’s a long story. Actually it’s not that long. Come, sit by the fire and I’ll explain everything.” She said and I followed her to the warm living room. I sat by the fire while asked from Marian from two cups of tea.

“I’d like to apologize from my behavior the last time you came here. Honestly, I can’t even remember you coming here. Those weeks were like a haze in my mind. But I know that I had said some terrible thing to Astrid.”

“It’s ok. I know you weren’t that well back then.”

“No, I was sick. I am sick. I guess Astrid had told you.”