The Journals of Henry Dawson

Chapter 10

*Greta*

I was actually surprised when I seen a pencil moving over on my writing desk. Although I have had some suspicions of someone being here with seeing it right before my eyes is a little intimidating. I carefully walked over the desk as the pencil was set down and picked up the page.

"You're right, you deserve an explanation. One I should have given to you from the start."

"What do you mean by that, who are you?" I asked out loud, and immediately the pencil started writing again.

I glanced at the words as they were being written.

"I never wanted to have to tell you this because I didn't want to hurt you. I have been here long since before you arrived here. I have watched you day after day, I've tried to comfort you and keep you safe, the best that I can. I can no longer keep you safe from the truth though. Greta, It's Henry."

"No!" I cried out before he could write another word. "No, you're not. Henry isn't.. he isn't" I could hardly even speak the words now. Henry isn't dead..is he? This cant be him, this has to be some kind of trick or maybe he's lying.

I knew he wasnt though. The handwriting matches Henrys perfectly. So Henry is dead, and has been all along. I can feel my heart break inside of chest as this knowledge sinks in. The pencil is scribbling away at the page trying to tell me something but I dont want to read it. I dont want to do anything anymore, I need to lay down.

I rushed to my room and quickly locked the door. Can he still get in though, I wondered. Probably. I dont think he will though. He's Henry. He will respect that I need space.

The words keep echoing in my head as I lay in my bed.

Henry is dead. Henry is dead.

Henry is a ghost in my house.

I dont know when I started to cry but I cant stop now. This isnt how our story was supposed to go at all. I was supposed to find him, safe and alive. We had such a beautiful potential future together but now thats all gone. Because of Connor.

Wait. I can ask him now, what really happened. Maybe there is proof somewhere of the murder that Henry knows about and we can at least get justice for him.

I hesitantly made my way out into the living room.

"Henry." I called out.

*Henry*

I heard her call out my name and I immediately perked up. I didnt think she would actually want to speak to me again. I picked up the pencil and wrote down a single word, curious as to what she wants to talk about. I'm sure has alot of questions, and I have so few answers.

"Yes?"

She drew in a breath and sat down on the couch facing me. "I need to know, what happened to you?" she asked sadly. "Anything that could help Eric."

I guess I shouldnt be surprised that Eric is all she cares about right now, though I cant help the hurt that spreads though my body for moment.

I started to write an answer when she spoke again. "You deserve justice to Henry and I want to help you both get that."

A small smile played on my lips. She does want to help me, well as much as I can be helped.

"Connor came up behind me while I was writing at my desk and hit my head with something hard and when I fell to the floor he kicked me in the face and thats all I remember about it."

Her face filled with horror as she read my words. Its not the most gruesome death but its still a sad one. To be taken out like that by someone you thought was close to you. I could feel myself going cold just thinking about it.

"Oh Henry, I'm so sorry." She reached out trying to find me and I welcomed her into my arms, full of warmth now. I held her tightly in my arms until I felt her shiver. Well I guess I'm the only one full of warmth. I let her go reluctantly and picked the pencil up once more.

"You're so warm." I could see her eyes widen at my words and the slight blush that stained her cheeks. So beautiful, I thought as I stroked her cheek.

"Henry, I --" She stopped herself and I pulled back. I'm obviously making her uncomfortable, I mean why would she want me now? It can never happen.

"I'm sorry." I quickly wrote.

I could see the confusion spread across her face. "Why are you sorry?

"For this. For being so forward and holding you and loving you" I quickly scribbled out what I had written before she could read the rest and added something else.

"For not telling you I was here sooner."

"You had good intentions. Like always." her smiled reassured me.

Her phone rang then and she jumped up to answer it.

"Its the police station." she told me before she answered.

She moved into the other room as she spoke and I took this time to think about out conversation. I can believe she's being so casual with this. I know she cried for a few hours and that was the most heartbreaking 3 hours of my existence but I'm glad she wanted to speak to me. It's nice to finally be able to instead of standing off to the sidelines. I could have saved her so much hurt if I just made myself known in the first place though.

Greta came rushing back into the room looking worried.

"Eric made a plea of self defense. He's saying that Connor attacked him first because he found out about him killing you." her breathe sucked in and her face contorted with pain. "Oh Henry i'm so sorry I didnt mean to be so blunt." I wrapped my arms around her and held her close and her breathing returned to normal. "Thank you." she mumbled into my chest.

"We have no proof though. That he did anything to you, except the page from your journal that I lost."

I pulled her towards the page and wrote down that if she could find the object that Connor hit me with maybe it would have some of my DNA on it.

Her face lit up as she remembered something then it fell immediately . Well this is probably bad.

"I think the murder weapon is a hammer." her voice barely above a whisper.

"It was under the floor boards of his house. I could tell the police that but they will know I broke into his house then." Then I realized what she saying.

If she tells the police that she broke into his house then it would look really bad against her and Eric, and even worse if its no longer there. She could get arrested for breaking and entering and have nothing to show for it.

"Don't do it. It's not worth it. Please dont get into trouble because of me."

She chuckled. "Henry don't you see?" she reached out and I took her hand in mine.

"Henry, you are worth so much to me. I love you."

I couldnt believe what I just heard her say. She loves me. She loves me.

I couldnt stop the wide grin that was spread across my face now.

I reached out for the pencil to tell her that I love her too. I love her so much with all my very being and she needs to know that.

I looked into her eyes one last time before everything went dark.