The Journals of Henry Dawson

Chapter 17

*Henry*

I stretched out as my eyes opened far too soon. I tossed and turned all night thinking about Greta and what she told me. I decided to get up and see if she was awake to see if she wanted to go see Eric with me. I needed to talk to him about everything. I need to apologize for leaving. This would have never happened if I had of just stayed put or kept him involved in my life instead of blocking him out for months. He was like my brother.

I walked out to the living room and seen Greta asleep on the couch. Why didn't she sleep in her bed, I wondered. I took this time to look at her, in the most non creepy way. She really was quite beautiful. A girl like this is actually in love with someone like me. I smiled as she started to talk in her sleep.

"Henry." She mumbled my name and I felt my chest squeeze. "Don't go. Come back." She started to toss around and I could tell she was having a nightmare. I gently shook her and said her name a couple times and finally she opened her eyes and shot straight up hitting her head against mine.

"Ouch." She rubbed her forehead and I couldnt help but chuckle. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it." Then I remembered her nightmare. "What were dreaming about? It sounded like you were scared." I seen her cheeks redden.

"Still listening in on my dreams huh?" She smiled but it didnt reach her eyes. "It was about you. I had a nightmare that you were never here and you were really dead." her eyes watered. "So I came out here on the couch and fell asleep and it came back."

I wrapped my arms around her and I felt her sink into my embrace and breathe in deeply. I love that I can comfort her so easily. I hardly know this woman and yet when she is in my arms right now I feel like she is the most precious thing in the world to me.

"Do you want to go somewhere for breakfast together?" I asked after a couple minutes. "Then maybe we could go see Eric?"

"Sure. He's certainly going to be surprised." She stood up and stretched her arms in the air and that's when I noticed she was only wearing a long T-shirt. 

I cleared my throat and quickly averted my gaze to her face. She raised an eyebrow at me then her eyes went wide.

"I'll be right back." She said as she sprinted to her bedroom, completely red.

*******

After breakfast we drove over to the prison and we have been sitting in the car for about 20 minutes to wait for visiting hours to start. Plus i'm super nervous. I dont really know what to say to him. He is in here because of me. I wish I could get him out of here.

"You ready to head inside?" Greta asked me with a small smile. I took a deep breath and nodded. I'm so grateful to have her with me because I dont know how I would do this alone. Just having her near me calms my very soul. How did I survive without this woman? Thank god I read through my journal or I would have never found her letter.

We placed all of our loose items in a bin at a front desk with an older woman who was smiling way too friendly towards me. I felt Greta tense beside me as she looked at the woman. Was she jealous? I smiled at the thought. It's kinda nice having someone be jealous for me. I needed to diffuse this situation though. I cant have her feeling bad about herself. What do I say without sounding weird? Here goes nothing.

I leaned closer to her face and whispered. "You are the most beautiful thing to me. There could be a hundred different beautiful sights right before my eyes and I would still choose to look at you and your beautiful soul." I pressed my lips to her forehead softly and then pulled away hoping I hadn't overstepped any boundaries. I searched her now blank facial expression for any signs of her being uncomfortable. Then she smiled and took my hand, immediately made  my nerves go away.  I thought about what I had said to her and realized how true my words were. It's only been a day and I'm already so smitten with her.