DEVIANT [H.S.]

27 - First Kiss

Harry

"What's it like, you know, to lose your memory?" Serena asks me as we sit next to each other on the bridge, watching the sun rise.

"I don't know how to describe it, really. My symptom, you can call it memory loss, but it's much worse. My mind reverts back to when my mother was still around," I explain, holding her hand in mine. My thumb runs over the skin on her hand and she inches closer to me as a reaction.

I know Serena is hesitant to hear about all of this. She has had to deal with many tribulations ever since we've met, and although I sometimes wonder how things would differ if we hadn't met, I'm still unbelievably thankful that we did.

"What do you remember?" Serena questions, resting her chin on my shoulder.

I look out over the water for a minute, letting my mind wander back to the past. I've known many Deviants who lose their memory and never regain it and I've always wondered why that hasn't been the case for me.

"I remember everything," I reply. "Even things I don't want to remember, I do."

Serena looks down into her lap, a saddened look on her face. Was it something I said?

I don't say anything else. I wait for her to collect her thoughts; she's been wanting answers from me and all I've ever wanted was to give them to her.

"So you remember that one day when you said that your feelings for me have grown?" She questions quietly.

"I do. What does this have to do with anything?" I ask her, tilting my head to try and look into her eyes. Her eyes still don't shift to meet mine.

"It was just a question."

"It was a question with a purpose," I fight back, raising her gaze to me by tucking my index finger under her chin. "You asked me that for a reason. Tell me what that reason is."

Serena stares into my eyes for what seems like a long while before responding. I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Harry, my mind has been racing around in circles the whole time you've been gone. I want- need to know, that you still care for me the way I care for you," She exhales a long breath after speaking, letting me soak in all she had to say.

I take both of her hands into mine and my lips curve up into a smirk. "Do I still care for you, Serena? You came into my life at the most unexpected time. You were there for my nightmares, and in your arms was the only place I looked forward to being every single day. You saved my life by saving my sister's life. I told you I was indebted to you. I meant every word that I said. When I said I owe you my life, I meant it."

"You remember saying that to me?" She asks, her bottom lip quivering slightly.

I nod. "Of course I do. I remember everything about you, about us. It all just came to me in an instant and I'm holding on to that instant for as long as I can."

Serena nuzzles her head into my chest and I free one of my hands from her grasp to let entangle itself into her hair.

"I never want to leave your side," She whispers into the material of my sweater, her breath hot and radiating.

I smile, kissing the top of her head softly. "Good, because I'm never leaving yours."

We stay like this for a while and I assume Serena has fallen asleep, but when she rises back up to her sitting position, that assumption is crossed out.

She looks into my eyes warily. "Can you make me a promise?"

I nod. "Anything."

"Let me save you. Please, Harry. We can find some way to save you from your symptom," Serena pleads.