Shade After Shade

Chapter Six

"Are you okay?"

"As okay as I can be."

"I-I didn't mean to distract you, I'm so sorry."

"It wasn't your fault."

"But it is-"

"No, never blame yourself. I found you distracting, you were only holding my hand. I should have been more careful."

"Harry..."

"I should have been...are you okay?"

She slowly shook her head, suddenly everything she tried to hold in her chest for a week now pouring out as she shook visibly while tears stung in her eyes and fell one after the other.

"I'm really sorry Harry, I can't keep this from you any longer I just-" she hiccuped and wiped away the tears from under her eyes while Harry tried sitting up upon seeing his distressed Taylor. She took a deep breath. "I have to leave to see my family."

He nodded in understanding. "It's okay, why are you so sad about it?"

"You don't understand, I need to leave and live with them for good."

He frowned. "Why? Where do they live?"

She let out a shaky breath. "Florida. My dad, he..." she started crying again. "He died and there's no one fending for mom and my little sisters."

Harry could've sworn he just felt his heart torn in a couple of million shreds. "Darling...but..."

She swallowed and shook her head as she wiped away more hot tears trickling down her flushed skin. "I'm sorry, I have no choice."

He can't say anything. It's true, it's her family and she can't just abandon them in a critical condition. "Why...why haven't you told me earlier?"

"I didn't know how to tell you, I'm sorry."

"Stop apologising, nothing is your fault."

"Nothing ever is, isn't it? Why does it feel like it always is?" She forced herself to calm down and remove all the tears that fell and are attempting to fall.

He leaned back on the bed, patted the space beside him as he scooted. "Come here, love."

She complies quietly leaving her bag and coat on the chair. She sat beside him and lied down as he placed his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to have her close to where his heart is beating so fast along with the he beeping monitor. They both ignored it.

"I don't know what will happen now, I don't want to lose you. I want to say we'll be okay, but I rather not lie to you. I don't want you to leave, God knows I don't, but I understand. Your family needs you." He pulled her even closer, his arm now on her back. "Now I'm just going to say I love you, and pretend for the next few hours that nothing of such things is happening until you have to leave. "

She felt his lips on the top of her head, her throat having a lump stuck there as she fought bursting into a bubble of tears again. "I love you, Taylor."

It was difficult, but she managed. She kept reassuring herself it's okay, it will be okay.

"I love you, too." She said the three little words back, at last.