Forever (h.s.)

Chapter 23

CHAPTER 23: Skype Livelihood

Each day got harder. Sometimes I'd come to a day where the sun seemed a little brighter, maybe Harry's return wasn't too far away: but the next day I could be curled up in bed all day with Ed Sheeran on shuffle and a box of tissues.

With Fiona back in America and my parents working 24/7, I was pretty much left to deal with the emotion on my own. School started and gave me something to do, but every second I knew, I was so aware, that no one would be waiting for me when I got home.

One afternoon, I came home from school to find seven missed FaceTime calls on my laptop.....all from Harry. It had been exactly one month, two weeks, and three days since he left.

I knew when I found multiple missed of anything, Harry was having a bad day and missed me badly. So, disregarding my homework, I ran upstairs and changed into comfortable clothes, pulled my hair up into a loose bun, and FaceTimed Harry from the living room couch.

It took him a single ring to pick up. It was a really bad day. Even before I saw his face, I could hear Harry's voice: frantic, sad:

"Sarah? Are you there?" He came into view with a sigh of desperate relief. "Love, I miss you. I need to come home. I'm coming home to you right now."

He did this about once a week, and it tore out my heart and shredded it like paper every time I had to tell him that he couldn't leave, that we couldn't be together just yet.

"Harry," I said softly, sadly taking in his perfect curls and sad dimples. His eyes, they were those of a broken hearted boy.

"I'm coming home, lovely I can't do this anymore-"

"Angel, no....."

"I can't, Sarah I can't-"

"Harry Styles, you listen to me right now." His eyes grew wide and he closed his trembling lips. "I know this is hard. It's been too long since I cuddled you in front of the tv." Harry whimpered, going to bury his face in the bedclothes by stopping halfway so he could still see me. I felt my throat constricting. I missed him. "But you know you have to stay there. You can't just up and leave, you owe it to the band, your friends."

He nodded slowly, sad eyes still fixed on mine.

"Please be strong for me, angel," I whispered desperately. "We're so close to you coming home."

Harry nodded again, and murmured something that sounded like, "I'm sorry". I managed a smile.

"I miss you, Harry," I told him softly, leaning towards the laptop like it would make us seen closer. "I want you here with me, you know that, right?" He nodded for a third time, still without speaking.

"I love you," he said finally. I dropped my gaze to the floor and smiled.

"I know," I said quietly. "I love you too."

There was a long silence during which we just stared at each other, unblinking, with sad eyes. I wanted so badly to reach through the camera and touch his curls, just once. Just one time.

"So, how's the tour? Got lots of fans yet?" I said, forcing a smile, hoping to lighten the mood and get a cheeky smile out of Harry.

"It's really amazing, love," he admitted, his eyes brightening maybe just a little bit as he started to tell me about all the places they'd played and people they'd met.

"People have started to recognize me in the streets, even!" he told me. "We've only played in a few cities so far!"

I then told him something that I'd been waiting to use to cheer him up. "Angel, you won't believe what's happened here..."