the brave ones // h.s.

forgiveness - ii

there's a lightning in your eyes i can't deny
then there's me inside a sinking boat, running out of time
without you i'll never make it out alive
but i know, yes i know, we'll be alright

~~~

harry's perspective

***

Harry has always seen himself as a mediocre man.

Maybe, in another life, he could've been something great. Someone worthy of respect; someone who could bring light to the darkest parts of a person and help others see themselves in a clearer perspective.

Writing had always been the dearest thing to Harry's heart. It didn't matter what else he failed at, he knew he was a good writer. Not just eloquent and well-written, but able to craft emotion into the words he wrote. As his talent grew and he aged, his mind opened up to the world and he became overcome with the desire to create works that would stir something in others. He wanted his words to move mountains and move people, too.

Before her, he had never met someone who was able to do that as a person, just by being who they were. He'd always wanted to be the kind of man who people turned to when they needed someone, but it seemed he was the one always relying on others. At the end of the day, he wanted what most people want in this life: to feel necessary; for his absence to mean as much as his presence.

But every time he looked at Eden, he found something within her smile, within her actions, that spoke the truth to him; the truth he needed to hear. That he was capable of meaning something to another person, and that he was more than just another bystander blending into the woodwork of someone else's story. He saw it in the way she quickly grew to accommodate his presence on her journey, and heard in the way she expressed her continual appreciation for his being there.

And while she felt she could never express her gratitude enough to him, he was the one who was eternally grateful for finally being given a chance.

So as he opened the door to his dingy motel room to reveal a rain-soaked Eden standing at his doorway, heart in her hands and a pitiful look in her eyes, his chest swelled at the knowledge that he finally mattered to someone, enough for her to chase him down.

***

"Hi, Harry," she says softly, and every atom within him aligns at the sound of her voice. He's missed her presence so much; her gentle demeanor, her quiet determination.

"Eden," he breathes out, unable to think of anything else except her name. She'd clouded his thoughts for days; finally seeing her again feels like a dream come to life.

"Can I come in?" she asks sweetly, and he opens the door further without hesitation. She glances warily at him as she patters into the room, her shoes leaving wet footprints in her wake. She hovers by the foot of the bed as he shuts the door, both of them seeming to share the same nervous feeling. Eden runs her hands through her wet curls and Harry awkwardly rubs his palms on the thighs of his jeans.

"Let me get you a towel," he says, nearly tripping over his own feet in his rush to get to the bathroom. He grabs her two clean white towels and hands them to her, keeping a tentative amount of distance between their bodies so she doesn't feel uncomfortable.

"Thank you," she says in a hushed voice. She drapes one towel around her shoulders while carefully drying her hair with the other one.

"Would you like to sit down?" he asks, nervously gesturing at the provided desk chair. She shakes her head, rolling her lips together as she continues to watch him.

"No thanks, I'm alright," she says. Her eyes drop to the faded brown carpet beneath their feet and Harry knows it's his responsibility to break the ice. He's the one who imploded her life in the first place.

"I'm assuming you're here because you read my emails," he says cautiously. Her eyes flicker up, catching the light from the nearby lamp. Lightning cracks in the distance, illuminating the room with solid white, but Harry's heart is only racing because of the brown eyes gazing back at him.

"Yes," she confirms. She scrunches up a handful of her hair in the towel and sighs. "There's so much I want to say to you, I just don't know how."

"Whatever you'd like to talk about, I'm an open book," Harry says, meaning it. It was a long shot that she'd even read his emails, but now that she's standing in front of him again, ready to talk it over, he'll do whatever it takes to get back to where they once were.

She bites her lip and he has to suppress a groan. Her brown eyes flutter as she looks around the room, clearly avoiding him. "Nice place you've got here," she remarks. "How long are you staying for?"

"Yeah, Amenkha did a good job," he smiles. "And I'm not sure. I was just playing it by ear."

Eden looks at him curiously but doesn't say anything. She patters into the bathroom and hangs up the damp towels before returning to the room.

"Okay," she sighs, planting herself on the edge of the bed. "Let's talk."

~~~

surprise!! double update to show my appreciation for yall :D