Gardens Of Eden (A Harry Styles Story)

Prologue: A Sad Beginning

Everlee Ashbury had had a hard childhood. Her Father had been a very wealthy man; handsome and respected. She could recall his voice, and perhaps his laugh if she really tried, but he had abandoned her and her Mother when she was only five, and truthfully, she hadn't wanted to know him after that.

Her Mother was a country girl, born into a poor family. She had fallen in love with Aaron Ashbury at only seventeen, and they'd been in love for sometime, before she got pregnant, and had the daughter that she'd always wanted.

Everlee's first memory was of thinking that her mother was so beautiful, with golden curls that chased down her back and blue eyes, like hers, that were always laughing. Blue eyes she had passed along to her daughter, heavily offsetting the dark hair so very much like her Father's.

The good memories of those times were few and far between. The garden outside had been her Mother's pride and joy, always blooming, never finished.

"Everlee, look. It's almost time." She used to say, and they would eat freshly baked cookies while watching the new flowers open up.

Until he left, that is, and she changed, retreating inside herself to mourn the loss of her love, while he started a new family in the city.

The money he had left them with lasted barely a year, forcing them to move into a smaller house. Everlee hated how the doors rattled in the wind, Mama said it was the house making it's own music.

But her Mother had never had a job, and with little education, she found herself making money in other ways.

Everlee could hear the men that came through those rattling doors at night. They sounded like animals, grunting and taking what they wanted. Most came by on the weekends, but a few others were around more often, proclaiming love and paying for a night of it, until they were satisfied.

At eight years old she started leaving the house when they arrived; disappearing to steal food from the night markets or play with stray dogs and cats near her house. She had learned young not to catch the dangerous attention of the men who came to see her mother.

But just like her father, the men always left before long.

She learned to care for herself in those years, but things got harder when her mother got sick. For weeks she didn't leave her bedside, except at night, to steal food and beg for a little money, but that was dangerous, too. Eyes seemed to follow her wherever she went. Men dropped her a quarter and expected a kiss in return. Women looked at her pitifully, asking where her mother was- a question that always sent Everlee running home, terrified to be sent to some place for children. She couldn't leave here, she wanted too, every day she wished there was some way her and her mother could go some place safe, and happy... but for now, this was what she had.

It was the day before her tenth birthday when Everlee came home to a strange scene. Blood spotted the floor in a line across the small room. Her mother's weak voice beckoned Everlee to her, and as she crept towards the dark room, more and more blood could be seen in a line through the house.

Everlee opened the door slowly to her Mother's room. Blood was all over the floor, but even more strangely, no source was to be seen. Her Mother's tired blue eyes had aged more than the young girl realized, but as she ran to the bedside, her grasp was firm and comforting.

"My sweet girl." She whispered. "My little love."

"What's going on, why is there so much blood?" Her small voice broke, waves of panic taking over her features.

"Shh, baby listen. The blood doesn't matter, you are safe." The look in her eyes was different, almost peaceful, despite the scene around her. Taking her child's small face in her hands, she pulled her attention back to her. "You are the strongest part of me, baby. And I'm so sorry for this life I've left you with. You deserve more... you always have." Tears prickled Everlee's eyes as realization set in.

"No Mama, it's okay as long as I have you." Everlee reassured her, holding her hands tightly.

"Listen to me love. You are never going to be alone, okay? Even in the darkest night I am with you. Remember that, baby." Hot tears fell onto the dirty sheets as the little girl curled up against her mom, smelling her hair and holding her close "I love you, Everlee." Mama whispered, folding something cold and metal into her small hand. "I love you so, so much."

"It's okay, mama. It's gonna be okay, I promise."

One heart stopped beating in the blackest part of that night, but two hearts had died before the sun came up the next day.