Forever

Memories

Henry pushed through the oaken doors and stood, taking in the scene before him. The old library seemed just the same, the way he and Abigail had left it all those years ago. Now he was alone, and love was far from his mind as he wound his way between the beaten, battered bookshelves. It was dark and unnaturally cold, and if he listened he could hear...... Voices drift from the walls, from all directions.

"Looking for something?"

"How can I help you?"

"Better be quiet......"

"Must be here somewhere!"

"How long has it been since you were last here?"

"Quite some time, wouldn't you agree?........"

He paused, straining his ears. There was nothing there. No voices. A figment of imagination. He cringed. Imagination meant fear. He couldn't be scared, if he was, Jo could be killed, or she'd know his secret-

Thud.

He whipped around, striking his hip on a small table. Groaning, he clutched the bony joint and stared into the darkness beyond. Another small noise. And another.....

Abraham emerged, holding a couple books. He clearly did not know he'd just given his father's heart a run for its money.

"Abraham!"

"Yes?" He looked up excitedly, showing him the leather bound books. Henry's eyes widened as his brain immediately took in the books' covers. Worn, fraying at the edges. Even the nick at the side of the first one, and the letters carved into the front of the second.

____________________________________

"You sure it'll work? It's made of leather-"

"Just give me the knife, it's going to be fine." Abigail said, taking the wood handled blade from his hand and trading it for the first journal, filled with poems of love and documents of their time together. Henry glanced uncertainly down the isle. No one was here yet; It was early in the morning.

"Oh, you're such a worrier. Who'll know it was us?" She fingered the knife, then returned it. A grin split her face.

"But-"

"Henry. Please?"

"All right." He gave in and positioned the knife over the journal, willing his hand not to move. Keeping his eye as steady as the glinting blade, he flicked his gaze up the isle occasionally-weapons weren't allowed in the library, even if concealed- To reassure himself they wouldn't get caught.

"There." He held it away from himself with both hands and examined it, smiling with satisfaction. Abigail took it and hugged him, kissing him in the cheek. She held it up closer to the light of the chandelier and giggled. The two letters would forever be ingrained in his heart as a part of himself, the one thing he trusted even Abraham not to know about.

H + A

Forever

______________________________

Stepping forward as fast as his clipped hip would allow, Henry reached out and yanked the books from his son's grasp, tears filling his eyes. Abraham stared, looking rather perplexed by his behavior. Henry turned back to face the other direction, running his fingers over the letters and the one word he hated with every fiber of his being. They were there, worn and smoothed with time, but there. Something wet rolled off his face and onto the leather, but he wiped it away before Abraham saw.

"I told you not to come here!" He barked coarsely.

"Look, I'm sorry, but you might need help-"