Minding Grace

21: It's a long way down

        She can see them.

They are in the same room as her and instinctively, she reaches out to them both.

Fingertips touching but it's not enough.

She tries again but each time she reaches for them, they seem to move back out, they are just out of her reach.

Her babies.

Then she sees him.

The face that haunts her dreams, turning them into nightmares.

He is the reason for where she is today.

For who she is today.

He disappears, taking her babies with him.

Now she is running.

Running after their shadows.

His laughter is taunting.

As are their cries.

She runs until she feels she can no longer breathe, yet she keeps running.

Because if she stops running, he wins.

He wins.

Grace woke up with a start, clawing at the covers on the bed as she tried to untangle herself, so she could put some distance between herself and him.

Him.

"Grace!" she heard his voice from beside her and instantly started to push and punch at him.

Why is he here in her room?

How did he..?

Strong hands gripped her arms, not to hurt her, but to cease her movements before he leaned in, his cheek touching hers.

Then she smelled him.

And she stopped.

"Harry?" she whispered as she stopped struggling, the familiar scent enveloped her.

She waited for him to speak, to confirm that it was him and not her mind still playing tricks on her.

"I'm here Grace," Harry answered, "I'm here."

The fear that was running through her veins started to ease, her heart that was beating so furiously that she felt it in her ears, began to slow.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I thought...can you forgive me?" she begged.

Harry released her arms and wrapped his own around her, pulling Grace close to him.

"There's nothing to forgive," he replied, "you've done nothing to forgive."

He felt her body lose its tension as she slumped against him, her own arms clutching his hoodie so tightly that if she let go, he would disappear.

She despised herself for feeling so weak and needy.

She was so ashamed of herself.

"You're not," she heard Harry say.

Grace pulled away just enough so she could meet his gaze, embarrassed that what she was thinking in her head, she had actually voiced out loud.

"You're not weak or needy Grace," Harry said softly, "you're one of the strongest people I've ever meet, trust me," he smiled at her, "emotions aren't something to be ashamed of either."

"It's just..." she sighed, "you shouldn't be seeing me like this, I'm your boss..." she trailed off when she saw his raised eyebrow, "what?" she asked.