Do You Remember?

𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎

"Do you remember what happened the week after?" I murmured, Harry tapping his chin with his index thoughtfully.

"Not really, but I think, Delilah, I think I remember something." He spoke distantly, his eyes focused on the wall facing him. He grunted at the IV connected to his skin, complaining about his hand itching, so I kissed it calmly in hopes of relieving his pain. Seeing my little flower suffer only broke my heart, but I knew he was tough to overcome everything."I remember you crying."

"I did cry at some point." I blinked a couple of times, startled that this little detail hadn't slipped off his mind. I smiled imperceptibly; his words screamed hope to me.

"I don't want to hear it." He folded his arms on top of his chest. "I want to know why I'm here. Why am I in a hospital room? Why the IV?" He grunted once more, getting defensive. I sighed and kissed his cheek a couple of times hoping it would simmer his anger outburst down.

I would've loved to make him part of what had went on a couple of days ago but the doctor had made it clear that any mention of the accident could be harmful to him. His mind was still fragile and he needed a week or two to gain fuller consciousness and awareness of his surroundings. I'm thankful he still remembers my name, I'm thankful he still remembers I'm a person he loves.

"But Harry, we can't just jump to the end of the story." I tried giving him this excuse, hoping it would work. "I am keeping my story going everyday for you. You'll know in two weeks."

"Fine. What happened then the week after?" He gave in, his hand holding mine tight.

"The gladioli had been in a vase by my bed for seven days...

~

The gladioli had been in a vase by my bed for seven days. Seven days of me waking up to their scent, your scent, their encouragements, your encouragements. I had left the note by the vase on my nightstand. It gave me hope, you know? It almost tricked me into believing Luca was in the past. I almost thought it was you and I now, your hands preparing the flowers that I will take home. Those green stems where your caring hands had been are the same stems I will hold back. Your touch still lingers on them, you were always here, somehow, and it made me happy.

Were you a stranger? But Harry I really didn't know. Technically you were. I had met you a week ago, I had seen you for an hour or two only. We only had gone around the shop and smelled your flowers. You only left me a note before we drifted apart. It felt more than a two hour span you know? It was more. You were more. I wanted you to be more. So back at my main question. Were you a stranger? Perhaps you were, but I knew you weren't going to be for so long.

My flowers had begun to wilt by the seventh day and Emily and I were once more going to cycle in town. It stroke me that I haven't told Emily about you, which wasn't really my habit. I was used to spill everything about my day right as soon as she walks through my doorstep, but you? You were more special than a daily conversation. I wanted you to be.

I remember that day, I was working over my CV a couple of hours before that Emily arrives. The money I had saved was beginning to run low and it was only logical I begin to look for a decent job to pay my expanses. I was already thankful my parents were paying my college tuition. Anyhow, as I said, I was preparing my CV when the doorbell rang. I remember thinking Emily was early but I opened nevertheless.