within the meadow √ h.s.

t h i r t e e n

harry's parents were coming back from a business trip and wanted to have dinner with him. it had been nearly two months since he had seen the two of them at once, most of the time just missing them as they headed out or he was gone when they were home.

his parents wanted to have dinner, so they must have wanted to say something important. harry loved his parents and he knew they loved him as well, he did. but sometimes he felt that his parents loved work and business more.

he admired their strong work ethic and determination to do better than before, but he knew he never wanted to become so engulfed in his work that he forgot the ones he loved. he wanted to make sure he made time for people he cared for, instead of asking for a rain check.

harry arrived at the restaurant with an expensive menu and small portions wearing a silk black button up paired with black pants. his parents were already seated when he arrived on his own, and they hadn't changed at all.

"harry, my sweet boy. how are you doing?" his mother asked, rising from her seat to embrace the tall young man that resembled her so intensely.

"i'm great, how are you two doing? how was paris?" harry asked, taking a seat after shaking his father's hand.

"oh! it was lovely! we closed six deals and we leave for australia the week after next," his mother chirped with excitement.

"your mother here insisted we have a nice dinner out instead of eating at home," harry's father added. she looked over at him with a frown implying for him to resist complaining. "what? i'm still jet lagged and we're here drinking wine at what would be midnight there."

"oh, hush." his mother disregarded her husband's complaints. "so harry, what have you and little percy been up to? you seem..happier? what's changed? is there a special someone?"

harry has always known his mother to be very straightforward and enthusiastic. he's also known that her intuition as a mother was absurdly strong, almost frighteningly strong.

"percy will be so happy you guys are home," harry's mother awed at the thought of her precious dog waiting for her. harry thought over how to approach the question of a girl. he knew he would not be able to escape the wonder his mother had, so he would have to face it head on. "there..actually is a girl. she's lovely."

"harry, you remember the agreement we made at the beginning of the year," his father reminded him.

flashback to january.

harry's parents had returned from japan. they were jet lagged, and upset.

harry had broken the news of leaving university to them over the phone, and they were not happy.

it was a new year, and harry wanted to experience more than books and lectures and new people. he wanted new places, new visions, new inspiration.

they came home a week earlier than planned, and disappointment was seeping from their skin.

"harry, i cannot believe you would do something this extreme without consulting us first," his mother's anxious voice began as her heels paced back and forth against the marble floor.

"but i-" harry tried to get a word in but was immediately cut off.

"do not begin your sentence with 'but', you will not get anywhere in this discussion if that's how you go about it," his father reprimanded.

"harry, this is the stupidest thing you have ever done. you've stayed out of trouble for this long, why are you endangering your future by this choice? how can you manage the business with us if you don't finish your schooling?" his mother went off.

"mother, you and dad have controlled every aspect of my life up until that decision. i wanted to get a part time job and move out, but you didn't approve. i've done everything for the approval of you two, and the only thing i have given myself is the pleasure of pursuing my art. i want to see things. i want to pursue this passion before it dies out by the busying of life." harry had never had this much to express to his parents through words.

"going and dropping out of school does not get you there!" his mother threw her hands into the air with exasperation.

"harry, give your mother and me time to process this. we're not done, but we need to discuss some things with each other," his father said with a calm and steady voice.

harry went up to his room without objection and did the one thing he knew he was good at; drawing.

later that evening, a knock was at his bedroom door before it was pushed open by his parents. they were no longer in their usual business attire and were more casual. his mother sat next to harry on his bed while his father stood next to her.

"harry, we want the best for you, and maybe taking some time to travel would be good while you're still young, and now have no real schedule," his father said.

"but we have conditions," his mother added.

harry remained silent as he listened to his parents and appreciated that they actually considered what he had told them.

"if by this time next year you have not traveled or experienced the 'new adventures', you will return to school and finish. if you choose to travel, you have two years to get it all out of your system and pursue that passion for art on your travels," his father finished explaining.

end of flashback.

harry recalled every detail of that agreement he temporarily forgot for six months. he didn't realize he had already spent more than half of the year not working on that opportunity.

"if there is anyone involved, i do not want your judgement clouded by them," his father mentioned. "if you no longer want to travel, then you will go back to school when the fall semester begins in a few months. the choice is yours, just don't base it off of another person."

dinner ended on a lighter note, but the ultimatum weighed itself down in harry's mind. his parents went straight home, but harry couldn't seem to do that. instead, he went to see the girl with the soft brown eyes and love for books.

it was dark, but he didn't mind the long drive up ahead. harry's mind was busy fighting his heart while it screamed its desires through his chest cavity, but then delilah crossed his mind.

he thought of her tanned skin that glowed in the sun, and even the moonlight. the brown of her eyes bringing a comfort to him that he wanted to dwell in for ages. her smooth voice cradling him in a calm he had never experienced before. the way she embraced the knowledge she holds within her mind that seems to never be satisfied. harry's feelings for delilah had grown like the flowers in the meadow, and he wished they would stop.

so, when she opened the door and stood there in a t shirt he left behind with her hair in a messy nest atop her head, he knew what his choice had to be.

he just wished laying next to her bare body while he played with her fingers made the choice less difficult.