The Exchange

Chapter 34

"Thanks for everything babe."  Louis says standing at the door with Eleanor.  

"No problem sweetheart.  If you need anything just call."  She gives him a peck on the lips and walks out the door in high heeled black boots, calling good-bye on her way.  Louis returns to the living room a moment later and collapses into his chair, visually exhausted.  

Harry's soft snores are no longer audible and I know I should get up and go check on him.  Eleanors words want to keep me glued on the couch and out of the way but being the good girl I've always tried to be, I peek into our room and check on our patient.  He's sitting up and looking out the window, clearly awake, so I retireve his soup from the kitchen and knock lightly on the door before entering.  

"Hey."  I whisper, slowly walkling closer and closer to his side.  

"Hey."  Harry says smiling widely.  

"How are you feeling."  

"Well rested."  He replies.  I sit cautiously on the edge of the bed and look into his eyes.  Aparently doctors can see a concussion through the eyes but I've never known if that's true or not.  

"Are you hungry?" 

"A little."  He shrugs.  His voice sounds less tired but is still strained.  

"I brought some soup if you want it."  I tell him.  He nods slowly and I spoon a bit into his mouth.

"Mmm that's good."  He moans, leaning his head back.  His flattery makes me want to smile but I remain serious.

"Are you in pain?"  I ask slowly, resisting the urge to reach out and wrap his curl sticking out through the bandage around my finger.  

"A little."  He replies.  I nod and spoon more soup into his mouth quietly.  He takes it abidingly and swallows.  I spoon more into his mouth.  

"The doctors told me if I stayed there longer the concussion would of gotten alot worse."  He says as I stir the soup around, looking for where all the little pasta balls went.  

"Did they?"  I ask politley, giving Harry a spoon of broth.  

"I have you to thank for that Mira, you saved me from a difficult and painful life ahead."  

"No I didn't."  I protest softly, offfering him another spoon.  

"You found me, you looked for me."  He says taking the spoon of soup.  

"Why were you out there Harry?"  I ask but wish I hadn't said.  I can't take back the words that are now in the air.  For a moment I wish I could reverse time so I had never said them.  

"I was just watching the snow."  He replies, "I felt like I needed the air so I went out and, it happened."  I nod, knowing my question was irrelevant and spoon him more soup. 

"Why did you get up so early anynways?"  Harry asks.  

"It was from a dream."  I remember thinking back to this morning, "And then I didn't see you so..."  I let my voice trail off and fill the spoon with more broth and chicken.  

"Was it scary?"  Harry asks and I wonder what this has to do with anything, 

"The dream?"  I clarify and Harry nods, "It was at the time."  

"Do you remember it?"  Harry asks.  I think of suffocating in the mounds of ice not able to breath.  

"Not really."  I say giving him more soup.  

"You know they say our dreams portray a deeper longing in our subconscience."  Harry spits out and I think about that for a moment.  Do I long to drown in ice?  

"Do you believe that?"  

"I don't know.  I guess it depends on the dream."  I give him more soup and he swallows duteously. "My mother used to tell me our dreams have something to do with what's going on in the life of someone we care about."  

"Do you believe that one?"  I ask again spooning more soup.  The bowl is almost done and I wonder if Harry is going to want to finish it.  

"I guess, have you ever dreamt about someone and then the next thing you know they're sick in the hospital or something?"  

"I guess."  I reply, thinking back in my life and through my dreams.  I give him more soup which he swallows slowly.  "How do you feel?"  I ask, placing the bowl on the nightstand.  Harry looks at me and nods.  

"Better now."  He smiles.  I nod and look down at the floor as his smile dissappears.  

"You must want to rest."  I say standing up from the bed.  Harry catches my hand and resticts me from going too far.  

"Actually," he says awkwardly and unsure.  He drops my hand and looks towards his feet, "I think I've had enough rest for now, but I could use some company."  He looks back up at me with large, pleading eyes.  Eleanors words, 'Stay away for your own good.' ring in my head but I can't ignore this paining boy so easily.  

"Okay."  I say taking up position on the bed again.  Harry's shoulders relax and he sighs, looking at my face.  

"Thank-you Mira; for everything."  Harry whispers, holding my hand and looking into my eyes.  I don't know what to say and I begin to feel nervous as my teeth clench together.  I want to say it's my pleasure.  I want to say I would do anything for any of them.  I want him to know how easy it is for me to do this, but I can't.  

"No problem."  I say instead, carefully placing my hand on top of his.  We sit there in silence because we don't need words.  Or has he just never wanted to say any?