The Way Things Work

Chapter Fifty Three

"Okay, so I guess we can call that a success?" Harry grasped your hand as he was driving home.

"You can call it what you want." You joked.

"You only left with what?"

"Hey I got a decent amount!" You defended. "I got two shirts and and a few sweaters." You smiled sheepishly. You rested your forehead on the chilled window. The autumn air was brisk and perfect.

"I managed to buy about fifty different things that you helped pick out and you walked out with more over sized, body hiding clothing." He laughed.

"I'm sorry, I wasted your money, maybe we-"

"That's not what I meant babe." He pulled over onto the side of a road and turned to you. "All I meant is that so many of those things I had to force you into, looked amazing. I don't get what you see, so spill. I want to help so tell me what you see. Right here, right now." He pulled down the visor and lifted the cover of the small mirror.

"I don't think you want to-"

"No, I need to hear it. Please." He pleaded as his grip grew tighter.

"I see an ugly girl with puffy eyes and fat cheeks, not even to mention my body. I see a worthless-"

"That bad?" He cut you off as tears dotted his eyes.

"Yeah." You sighed.

"You know that's not true, right?" You looked at his and he rescinded the question. "You know what? Don't answer that." He chuckled knowing the words that tried to escape your mouth. "Can I show you something?"

"I guess." 

"Okay, come with me."

"Where? We're not home yet." You giggled.

"I know, we aren't going home." A dazzling smile crossed his face as he stepped ahead of you. You weren't really sure of where you could have been going. He pulled over on a residential road. 

"Harry, please just tell me." You whined as you walked down the third block.

"But my dear, I thought you loved surprises."

"When I'm wide awake I do." You smirked.

"Fine then. Up we go." He picked you up in a bridal fashion as your hands interlocked behind his neck as a reaction. 

"Put me down! You know I'm too heavy!" 

"If you were too heavy then how would I be holding you?"

"Just put me down!"

"When we get there! One more block!" He walked down the street and slipped between a set of fences. You curled closer to his body as his strong arms supported you. "Hey, look." He whispered as you lifted your head. Before your eyes was a small secluded child's park with slides and swings, stuff you did when you were younger and more innocent.

"Why are we here?"

"I want to talk to you." He placed you down and walked over to the swings. He sat you on his lap as you slowly rocked back and forth. "You see all this stuff? Can you remember a time when you weren't insecure? When it didn't matter what clothes you wore or your waist size? Do you remember that?"

"Vaguely." You smiled.

"Let's go back to then. Back to the time where you're biggest fear was missing a cartoon on TV, not fearing of taking your life. Can't we do that for one day?"

"I want to Harry, I desperately want to. But the truth is I can't. I'm like a mirror. If I break you can fix me but I will always reflect the cracks."

"Then I'll use super glue." He smiled as you giggled. "I'm kidding, but I understand. I get how hard it is to forget everything and be yourself. You just get lost in the sea of words and no matter how hard you try you can't save yourself. But that's the thing, we're not alone. We can help save each other. You already saved me so let me be your superman. I can help you escape those fears and worries."

"I would need to be a thousand miles away for that." You smiled but he bit his lip nervously and looked down. "Did I say something?"

"Not at all, I was just thinking."

"Tell me." You urged.

"No."

"Harry, that's not fair." You said as you got off of his lap.

"What's not fair?" He stood up, defensively.

"You made me bare my soul to you and you can't even tell me what you're thinking?" You were beginning to grow angry as his double standards.

"Look, it doesn't matter!" His voice grew colder as he stepped closer to you and unfolded your arms. You pulled them up and away, but Harry stumbled backwards as his hands flew to cover his face. You both stood silent for a second as he slowly looked at you. Your eyes softened and the fight no longer seemed that important. 

"Hey, I promised I would never hurt you and I intend to keep it." You said lightly, on the verge of tears as you slowly reached and pulled his hands away from his body. You held his wrists and pulled them around your waist so your torsos were pressed against each others. His hands enclosed around your body as yours did the same. He rested his chin on your shoulder as you heard a few sobs escape his throat. You rubbed his back until he pulled away.

"I love you." He smiled weakly as a tear rolled down his cheek.

"I love you too." You smiled as you wiped his tears away. "And I'm serious. I will never ever hurt you."

"I-I know. I don't know why I did that."

"I do. You have been so hurt for so long Harry, don't be my superman, I'll be your superhuman."