The Journals of Henry Dawson

Chapter 12

*Henry*

Greta has been arguing for hours now to the officer from the station. Apparently even though they found the hammer and it matches my blood type they still cant charge Connor with anything because its his right to face his accuser and what not and he cant do that since he's dead. Also the fact that there is no body.

So instead of charging him with anything they are putting out a missing persons alert with my description and the photo from the attic. Although who knows what my body looks like now and I highly doubt anyone is going to find me. I'm probably buried somewhere in these woods. These woods that I admire so much have become my eternal home. I guess I couldnt ask for a better resting place, especially with Greta by my side.

Greta tossed her phone onto the dresser and collapsed on the bed with a groan. I climbed up beside her and started to rub her back for her, causing her lips to twitch fighting back a smile.

"Henry, what do you think life would have been like if we met before..?" she asked as she propped herself up. "I mean do you think you would still have fallen in love with me?"

She was biting her lip now with a nervous expression. "I just dont want you to be stuck with me because you feel like you have to."

If only she could see the dumbfounded expression on my face right now. Is she serious? Does she not know that I love her with all of my very being and I have never felt this way before. Obviously I didnt do a good job of explaining myself last night. Hell i'm the lucky one that she even want to be with me. I'm not even a real man and yet she wants to be with me. I know its a selfish thing to do but I cant seem to push her away.

I took her phone off the dresser and typed her a message.

"Greta, I need you to understand at this very moment that I love you. I loved you from the moment you walked into that door and I felt the rush of warmth throughout my body. I am so lucky that I have you because if I didn't I would be alone. I know I came out here for exactly that but when I'm with you, it feels a hundred times more special and comforting than all of those beautiful walks I took in those woods. Every memory of my time out here I would give up to just speak to you for a day. I love you. I love you. I love you. Never forget that."

Her face lit up with every word that she read and I couldn't help but feel pride that this amazing woman loves and cares for me so much. I wish I could offer her more but what I can offer is that I will never let her forget what an incredibly selfless and beautiful woman she is. I will love her everyday of forever no matter where I go or where she ends up one day. If she changes her mind about me I will still love her. Until the very end.

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*Greta*

I decided to visit Eric today and explain to him everything is going on. I wish Henry could leave the house so he could help me with what i'm going to say. Will he even believe me? I will at least try and give him the peace that his sentence isnt going to be as long if we find Henry's Body.

I cringed thinking about that and pushed the thought away as I pulled up the visiting center. I left my purse and any other loose objects in the bin at the front desk and headed to back room. I seen him sitting alone at a table by the window and I called for him. His eyes met mine and he jumped up and ran over to me and wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug.

"Hands off, Turner." One of the officers bellowed at us.

Eric immediately backed away and gestured to his table he was sitting at. I took a seat and had now idea where to even start. How do I tell him about Henry? Do I tell him about Henry?

"So how are you holding up? I heard that they wont hold a trial because of Connor being dead." Eric's head sunk into his hands. "This is all my fault. All because I couldn't control my temper."

I reached out and placed my hand on his, while glancing around making sure a guard wasn't watching. "Eric, it's not your fault. Connor provoked you with his words, I was close to hitting him but then Henry held me back." I froze, realizing what I just said. Eric pulled his hand away from me a look of confusion on his face.

"What did you say?" he spoke in low tone. "Henry held you back? Like emotionally?"

Oh boy, here it goes. "Well..no. Physically." I seen his face contort as he processed what I was saying. "Henry is still in the house. Well his spirit is."

"Is this some kind of joke?" He looked really annoyed at me now. Why did I even open my mouth about this?

"No and he didnt think you would believe me either so he told me something that only you and him would know. To prove it." His narrowed at me.

"How do I know you didnt read it from his journal?" He countered.

"I dont know." My shoulders dropped. "I guess he thought you would know that he wouldnt have written about something so personal."

I could tell he was thinking if wanted to indulge me in this or not. Some time passed and I reminded him that we only have a few minutes left. He took a deep breathe and waved his hand towards me, telling me to speak.

"When you and Henry were 14 years old, he said that you were both walking home from school and you witnessed a man being beaten with a bat in alleyway." I could hear his breath suck in. "He saidthat he told you that night that he was so glad he had you a best friend because he wouldnt want anyone else to watch his back." I could see him tightening his knuckles as I spoke
"He also said he wishes he could change his first letter he wrote to you. He would tell you that he still has your back and he loves you. He would have told you to come to the house and keep him company on nights when the woods were so quiet he felt like the only person in the world. He would say that--"

"Alright thats time, everyone wrap it up!" The guard shouted out.

Eric rubbed the tears that i didn't know had formed from his eyes and gave my hand a light squeeze. "Tell Henry, I forgive him. A good person never holds a grudge."

I nodded at him and gave him as small smile he was ushered out of the room. I collected my belongings and headed out of the building towards my car when I bumped into a person who was walking in.

"I'm so--". I started to say but my throat went dry and no words would from. The face that I see in my nightmares. The face I seen when Eric was punching Connor to death.

Its him.

"Alex." I stuttered, while looked down. Why is he here? Why did I have to run into him?

"Greta." my body shivered in bad way when he said my name. "Please look at me." I hesitantly peeked up at him and something was different about him. His eyes were no longer filled with rage and his expression seems..apologetic?

"I'm glad that we ran into eachother." I rolled my eyes at his comment and started to move around him to get to the door, but he continued. " I just want to say that.. I'm sorry." my neck almost broke how fast I turned around.

"Excuse me?" I asked completely stunned.

"I said I'm sorry. Ever since you left Ive been going to these programs that help..with anger and.." His voice trailed off as he remembered the abuse he inflicted on me in the past and I actually seen pain flash across his eyes. This man who made my life miserable for so many years who i never seen shed a tear is now crying and apologizing to me. I dont really know what to say.

"Um..I." I muttered unable to form a sentence.

"Look I know you wont forgive me but I just needed to say sorry. I also didn't know what to do with your books so I put the box in a our old storage shed along with some other things..the combo is the same if you want them" He was staring at the ground kicking at the carpet. "I'm just so sorry." His voice cracked then he composed himself. "I have to go now I volunteer here on weekdays..I'm sorry." He gave me a small smile and walked past me.

"Wait." I heard him stop and I turned to face him. "I forgive you."

I seen his whole body relax and he smiled a genuine smile at me before waving and walking away.

As I walked to my car I could feel the heavy chains of resentment falling to the ground making me feel completely weightless.

Now i'm free.