Gold Rush

Chapter 16 -END

It had been more than whole year now, but it had to happen eventually. He was there, smiling at Louis, a glass in his hand, as beautiful as ever. 

I took a deep breath, fixed my dress and walked up to him. 

He looked a bit surprised, but mostly relieved. He hugged me and his smell took me back in time, not so long ago... However, when he let go this time it did not hurt. And that's when I knew for sure that we had taken the right decision. 

Before the party I had called him. We needed to talk before Louis' birthday. I did not want to meet Harry just like this after more than a year of silence. I couldn't. The conversation had lasted a couple of hours, he was not expecting my call. Me neither to be honest, I thought about messaging him, or sending a letter... but I needed a more "direct" contact, and as I could not drive to his place, a video call was my best option. 

We started by catching up as if the last twelve months had not went by. We laughed a couple times and it felt good. Then he eventually asked what was the purpose of my call.

That's when I told him. I told him I was sorry. That I had loved him so much and that I did not have any regret, our story was what is was and that I would cherish it forever. I told him that I should have explained myself better that day instead of walking away and not answering his calls. The words I kept for my self were slipping so naturally out of my mouth and I felt better and better. Harry remained silent the whole time, and it encouraged me to continue, to say that we were young and still are, that we had so much to live and that being together was great but it was not healthy, that need of belonging to each other, the fact that I cared way too much about what people said instead of just enjoying the fact that we were together, and him being over protective... I told him that we did not have to be friends or enemies to matter. We did matter and always will, despite the distance, the time or the new experiences that we were going through. 

I was out of breath when he started answering.

There was no angst in his voice. His look was soft on my screen. He wasn't mad at me, not anymore. He had moved on just like I did, and avoiding contact was the best way to do so. He was happy to talk to me though. He was relieved, at peace. He knew I was right, our relationship had been strong and beautiful, but it belonged to the past and the way we were trying all over again just showed how much we cared about each other but not the fact that we did not felt the same way. And it was ok, ok to evolve, ok to want to live something else, to love someone else... Each story is different, and he knew that ours was special, and would never be replaced, because it is not how things work. 

We ended the video call both of us smiling and ready to grow up. He knew I cared deeply about him and that I'd always be there if he needed me, and the same for me. But we understood that we did not need to be in each others life full time, that being apart had helped us more than anything else. Harry would always be a significant part of my life, but it did not mean that I had to think or talk about him everyday. 

So we spent time together at Louis' party, we chatted about nothing and everything and when I left, light-hearted, I did not know when I'd see him again but I knew he was happy and that I was happy. And that's how it should be.

THE END.