Hi, Mr. Styles

Three

Harry liked routine. He was out of bed on weekday mornings by half past five, followed by a two-mile run, a shower, and finally breakfast, which he usually finished on his way out the door. The morning commute was significantly easier than the former, back when he lived in the heart of Los Angeles and taught middle school. They'd given him a run for his money. It took more than one Dead Poets Society moment to win them over.

He'd traded that faster-paced life for his current one. Harry rented a small house on the quieter outskirts of town, where he'd been ready to settle down with Felicia Palmer, the woman he pictured building a life with.

But after what happened between them, the foundation quickly crumbled and he was back at square one, both worse and better off for it. Every day he considered taking the ring back to the jeweler. Especially since he could use the money.

She still sent good morning texts, which he deleted every time. He'd washed his hands of her. His nature was that of the patient, forgiving kind but even he had his limits and Felicia had gone miles beyond. She'd robbed him of something he could never get back. Only karma stopped him from wishing her the absolute worst.

He couldn't understand how she even had the gall to contact him. He could likely end it if he could just find it in his heart to block her number. A few taps and it'd be done. She wouldn't be able to hurt him anymore, to haunt him any longer. He might have sworn he felt her hands on his back as he brushed his teeth, the touch so realistic he glanced over his shoulder. Of course, there was no one there but still. He couldn't shake her.

"We can talk this out!" That was the last thing she'd said to him, the night he'd asked her to go and never come back. Felicia still had a hold on him and knew it as well as he did. She was outright damned evil, he'd concluded, and truth be told, it wasn't hard to get one over him. He was plenty smart but most of his thinking was done with his heart as opposed to his mind. Everyone got the benefit of the doubt, deserved or not.

Maybe he'd do it tomorrow. The conflict stemmed from his mother's advice. Pain was best dealt with head on, not ignored or run away from. He was still working on that. For now, it was a Thursday and work, along with the kids, required his focus. He'd changed his routine, opting for meditation instead of breakfast. Intuition wasn't exclusive to women. Something told him today would be... difficult.

He entered the double doors of Jefferson Elementary School, returning good mornings and hellos from fellow teachers with a smile. He was yawning by the time he walked into his classroom, hoping the coffee would kick in soon. He didn't drink it often but it was complete with three espresso shots.

He was up until two in the morning finishing coursework, bleary-eyed and hopeless, questioning whether or not that doctorate he'd eventually need to go after was worth any of it. Sure, he'd be financially secure in the end, but what good would it be if he was no longer of sound mind?

But seeing the kids' smiling faces reminded him why he wanted to teach in the first place. Knowledge, as cliché as it was, really did equate to power and he figured humanity, in general, could benefit from powerful people, from open-minded individuals who'd eventually bring about real change. It was bigger than himself, he kept in mind. He needed to do his part.

Harry was significantly caffeinated by the time the students arrived, excited for another day. He tried to recall what it felt like, to have that kind of lust for life. It seemed to wane as people got older and there was nothing sadder than that. Among the liveliest was Hope, remarkable kid she was. She was sure to pass along another hello from her mother, which she'd done every day since he'd had dinner with them a few days prior.

"Hey, Mr. Styles!" The others happily greeted him as they wandered in one by one, storing their belongings in their respective cubbies and taking their seats. He'd learned long ago not to bring home to work with him. The kids deserved his attention, which they were eager for. He finished off the coffee and sat on his desk, waiting for them to settle down.