𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐍! | harry styles

𝐗𝐗𝐈𝐕

WITH a shaky hand, Harry raised the phone to his ear. The idea of talking to Bella made him extremely nervous. Gone was the safety net their letters provided, and unlike when she visited, this time he would need to hold an actual conversation.

Ring.

Harry wondered how she would receive his call. In her last letter, Bella hadn't seemed opposed to his request to contact her, but written words could be deceiving. He hoped her easy acceptance wasn't a product of his own wishful thinking.

Ring.

The phone cord was twisted firmly around his fist, and his foot tapped a steady rhythm on the floor. When the third ring was cut short, his breath caught in his throat.

Bella answered and listened as a recorded message played.

"You have a call from Waterview State Correctional Facility. You will not be charged for this call. This call is from a correctional institution and is subject to monitoring and recording. If you do not wish to accept this call, please hang up now. To accept this call, press 5. To deny this call and block all future calls from this facility, press 7."

She pressed 5, and the call was connected.

"Hello?"

"Bella?"

"Harry, hey."

"Is this a bad time?"

"No, of course not."

Harry let out a deep breath. He could feel every muscle in his body relaxing as he sagged against the wall. "Did you—"

"I was—"

They laughed uncomfortably.

"You first," said Harry.

"I was just starting to wonder if I was ever going to hear from you."

"You were? It is okay that I called, right?"

"Of course it is."

"I would've called sooner, but it took me a little while to get a phone card."

"Really? I guess I just assumed you'd call collect."

He hesitated. "I didn't know if I should."

"It would have been okay. What were you going to say before?" Bella asked, changing the subject.

"Oh, um . . . did you have a nice Christmas?"

"I did," she answered happily. "It's nice to be home with my mom. I wish it were warmer, but at least it's sunny."

"You're still in Phoenix?"

"Yeah, but only until tomorrow. My friend back home is having a New Year's Eve party that I don't want to miss. How was your Christmas?"

"It was . . . I don't know. It was just Christmas, I guess. I'm glad you're having a nice vacation, though."

They were quiet for a few moments before Bella spoke. "So . . . no news is good news, right?"

"I hope so." Harry smiled to himself. Bella had always been supportive in her letters, but now, hearing her voice, he couldn't help but think she was on his side. "When I hear something, you'll be the first to know."

"Good. Hey! I have a present for you."

Harry's heart sank. Aside from money and letters, there was nothing he could receive. He hoped she wasn't going to send the former again. Last time it had made him feel worthless, a disheartening reminder that he didn't have anything of value to send her in return.

"Bella—"

"Hold on a sec. I just . . . have to get it . . . all set up."

His curiosity peaked as she shuffle around on the other end of the phone. He couldn't imagine what she was doing.

"Ready?" Bella asked excitedly.

"Ready as I'll ever be," he answered apprehensively.

A few silent seconds passed. Harry opened his mouth to ask if she was still there but stopped when he heard a hauntingly familiar sound. Notes, played in a minor chord, filled his ears, and although he had never before heard the song, he knew it by heart.

The melody began slowly and held an air of sadness. As the tempo increased and the notes climbed the scale, it transformed into something light and sweet, taking on a hopeful quality. In his mind, he could see the pages of music he had written, pages that represented Bella's impact on his life.

For the first time in over ten years, Harry listened to one of his compositions. It was amazing, hearing his music come to life, but knowing this piece in particular had been played by someone else left him feeling raw and vulnerable. Never before had he poured so much emotion into anything he had written. It was personal, the only tangible thing he and Bella shared, and he had always imagined being the one playing the first time they heard it.

However, after having gone so long without even touching a set of keys, Harry wasn't sure he could do the song justice. Whoever played it had done a remarkable job, and for that, at least, he was thankful.

The song slowed and faded in unfinished discord. The final note hung poignantly in the air like an unspoken question, a symbol of Harry's own unknown future.

"Harry, are you still there?"

"I'm here," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"Well, what do you think?" she asked cautiously.

Harry struggled to keep his composure. "You had someone play it for you," he stated.

"No, I had someone play it for you." It shouldn't have been a surprise that Bella did with him in mind, yet once again, Harry found himself in awe of her selflessness. "You're really talented, Harry."

"Thank you." He took a deep breath before asking the only thing that mattered. "Do you like it?"

"I love it. It's beautiful."

"It's you," he whispered. "It's all you."

Before Bella could respond, they were interrupted by another recorded message.

"You have one minute remaining."

"What! That's all?"

"Yeah, I only get fifteen minutes."

"Seriously? That hardly seems fair."

"Fair or not, those are the rules," he said. "I'm not in a position to complain. Besides, it's fifteen minutes I got to spend with you."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have wasted so much time."

"Don't apologize," he said firmly. "That was one of the most thoughtful things anyone has ever done for me."

Bella sighed. "I'm not ready to say goodbye."

"You don't have to," he said. "Just talk."

"I don't even know what to say now." Bella was clearly upset. He hated hearing her like that.

"You have thirty seconds remaining."

Harry didn't want to waste what little time they had left, especially if he were never afforded this opportunity again. There were things he needed her to know that he didn't want to write it in a letter.

"Bella, thank you for being there for me," he began quickly. "Thank you for visiting and letting me call and for the song. I'm not the same man as I was eleven years ago, but I'm not the same man I was seven months ago, either. I don't know how I would have made it through this year without you. You've given me hope and taught me that I do have things to live for. I hope you have a good trip home and a happy New Year. Celebrate for me, and promise me you'll be safe."

"I'll be safe." There was no mistaking the way her voice broke during her promise. "It was nice talking to you, Harry. I hope—"

There was a click as the line disconnected.

"Bella?" he asked, even though he knew she was already gone. "Please let me in, Bella," he sighed into the receiver. "There's nothing I want more than you in my life."