Lifeline

9. Tearing the Heart

Third Person POV

Poppy found Hunter a little ways away from the court room, hidden in an L-cove. He barely looked at her. He was sitting on the ground, his head in his hands, shaking. For a moment, nothing moved. She just stood there, gazing at him. She hated all this, hated having to look at him as he was now, and knowing that he would never be the same. Even if he got better, he wouldn't be the same. It was not only because his heart had broken, hearts were - by nature - breakable. But when your heart breaks and you heal, you are still never the same as before. Sometimes that can be good... Sometimes you can evolve from that and grow stronger.

This was not one of those times.

Because sometimes suffering is just suffering. It doesn't make you stronger, or build character. Sometimes it just hurts.

She sighed, and sat down next to him. He barely looked up. She didn't want to hurt him more, but she needed to ask. "Did you know?" She asked softly, a little louder then a whisper. "Everything we heard in there, did you know?"

Hunter shook his head. Then he lifted it from his hands and looked at her. His eyes were bloodshot, but there were no tear stains on his face. He probably wiped them away...

"After they asked me to leave... I stayed by the door. I kept listening, for a bit. I heard it all. After I did, I came here. Didn't know where I was headed, I just wanted somewhere private."

She looked down, wishing to erase the last hour from her head. She could only imagine how Hunter felt right now.

"I'm so sorry, Hunter. I wish this had never happened to you." She was almost crying, but not quite there. He smiled sadly.

"I know I should probably be asking myself something like, why me, what did I do to deserve this, but I'm not. Because there are no answers to either of them, not really. Why not me? In all honesty, it was probably a random choice and I just pulled the short straw. I don't think there was any higher power at play in this, just bad luck." He had a dazed expression on his face, like he was just thinking out loud, but she knew he was talking to her. "You know, they say that time heals all wounds... but in this case, I think the cause of suffering is as timeless as the dimension I was in."

"Don't say that!" Poppy demanded, looking up at him. "You will heal! Eventually, you'll find a normal again. You'll be different, yes, but you are gonna be you again, I promise!"

Hunter shook his head, still sadly smiling. He looked her in the eye. "How can you know?"

Poppy paused for a moment, considering her answer. How did she know? She knew she honestly believed the words leaving her mouth, but how?

"Well..." Poppy sighed. She decided to take a unique approach to answering this.

"Did you know children never grow up?" She asked. Hunter raised his eyebrows at that. "Huh?"

"Children never grow up." She stated. Hunter frowned. Where was she going with this? "Children's bodies grow bigger, but their mind stays the same at first. Then all the crap in the world starts to tear at their hearts and they adapt to the cruelty and we call it growing up. But there are some people who adapt, but keep that light they had from their childhood. I grew up with you, and I saw you hang on to that light," Poppy smiled, remembering the days they had laughed together. Hunter was looking at her intently. "And now Voldemort went out of his way to tear up your heart, but I know you. I know who you are and I honestly believe that nothing can dim the light in you. I don't even think you know it yourself, but you are the person I knew. A little torn up and bruised... but still Hunter." Poppy smiled softly, and Hunter smiled back. They stayed sitting like that for a few minutes, then Hunter took a deep breath, breaking reality into the moment. He kept smiling though.

"As far as motivational speeches go, that was pretty decent for improve." He told her, smiling. She had to laugh at that one. Hunter looked at her. Then he frowned and looked away.

"I keep thinking... I love you all. And coming back here has been so hard on all of you because of what happened. Was it worth it? Loving each other? You and Evelyn... all the pain could have been avoided without love..."

Poppy frowned. "What are you saying? Of course it was worth it!"

He shook his head. "I've realised now that there is so much risk in loving someone..."

Poppy scoffed. "There is so much more risk in not. Yeah, it hurt like hell. But you never say that again. All this war Voldemort brought, it's because he doesn't understand how to love. You can't think like that. Because WITH love, you never would have gone missing."

Hunter sighed. "I know, it's just... you know your older now?" Poppy frowned. "Huh?"

"You are. And so is everyone else. My life is gone. I don't know how to get it back."

Poppy looked at Hunter. She loved him. So much, so many days, she would dream of him coming back. Of him being alive and well. Finally she got everything she wanted... but in a way she hated.

"We'll figure it out. Together. I promise."

Hope you guys enjoyed this part!

Bye Darlings <3