The Garden Of Larry

And what if I don't sign them.....

(Harry)

I sat in a chair beside Louis and we had to pretend that it wasn't at all awkward. The headmaster was saying that Anthony had pulled a young girls' hair during playtime. I found that strange because Anthony always treats girls with kindness. Maybe he was taking the separation hard and wanted to play a little Parent Trap. I was caught off-guard when the headmaster questioned us.

"Is there any trouble at home that might be causing this behaviour?"

"I don't think so?" Lou said and I just listened. I wouldn't know because I'm not around anymore.

"Any new changes?"

"The only real change in our lives is the separation of my husband and I. Does that count?" He asked. This was all my fault for cheating.

"That certainly sounds like it could be the cause." I much prefer my idea about the whole Parent Trap thing.

"I'm really sorry for his misbehaving and I assure you that he will be properly dealt with once we get home." Dealt with? Can't you see that he's begging for us to just grow up and make up?

"Well that is good to hear. I don't want to have to call you in again, Mr. Stylinson."

"I go by Mr. Tomlinson now, Headmaster." I was hurt when he said that but I don't think he noticed.

"Alright, Mr. Tomlinson. Thank you for coming in today and I hope I won't need to call in either of you again." He nodded and we both exited the office.

As we walked down the hall towards Anthony's classroom I stopped Louis in the middle of the hallway.

"So you're changing your last name back?" He just nodded.

"Harry, we're not really married anymore so it's best that we change back to our original last names." I shook his head. What if we decide to get back together? I know he's seeing someone else, but it is still possible.

"I completely disagree. Why change them back? What difference does that really make?"

"Harry, I'm not doing this with you right now. We can't truly move on until we get them changed back and you sign the bloody papers."

"And what if I never sign them?" He gasped. I can't believe I actually said that. Out loud and everything. I am such an idiot.

"Harry, I need you to sign the papers. I know it may be difficult to accept at first, but we aren't together anymore and I'm in a committed relationship with someone else. I can't go walking around with our shared last name if I'm ever to officially move on from you." I know he's right, but that doesn't change the fact that what he just said hurt me.

"I understand." I couldn't look him in the eye. I stared down at my feet until he spoke.

"Look, I'm sorry I said it that way. You and I both know it's the truth though. No matter how it's said, we both need to move on and we can't until we change the last names back. Please understand that, Harry, and please sign the papers so we both can move on."

I just stared at him for a moment. I almost couldn't believe the words that I was hearing. After everything we told each other. After everything we promised. I finally had to accept that Louis and I were officially over and it had to be in writing. We had to change our names back and I wasn't ready for that. I didn't have a choice in the matter though. I had to, because if I truly loved Louis, and I did, I had to let him go. I wasn't ready to, but I was going to have to.

"Fine. I'll sign the papers and let you go." Saying those words out loud was harder than saying my wedding vows.

"Thank you, Harry." He continued down the hall and I exited the school.

************

"Please sign the papers so we both can move on."

"Please sign the papers so we both can move on."

"Please sign the papers so we both can move on."

"Please sign the papers so we both can move on."

"Please sign the papers so we both can move on."

Those stupid words kept echoing in my head. It was giving me a migraine. I put my earbuds in and put some music on to drown out the words.

"Please sign the papers so we both can move on."

It repeated four times.

"Please sign the papers so we both can move on."

It repeated three times.

"Please sign the papers so we both can move on."

It repeated two times.

"Please sign the papers so we both can move on."

It repeated one time.

Finally; nothing. All I could hear was the music drowning out everything else. Those words were like daggers to my heart. I can't believe out of everything he's ever said to me that was hurtful, those words stung the most. I now have to sign the papers to set him free and I'm going to have to be ready for that. I'm going to have to truly move on from him and it's going to be hard. Atleast I know that with Olivia by my side, I can finally move on from Louis.

Who am I kidding though? It will always be Louis to me. There could be a dozen Olivias and I still would want Louis. To me, it'll only ever be him. It's like we used to say to each other.

'Once you give your heart to someone, it's there's until they give it back.'

Louis never gave me my heart back and I never gave him back his. No matter how many people come into our lives, and think we've given them our hearts, we haven't. All they get is the shadow of our hearts. Until we give each other back our hearts, they will forever belong to each other.