Red String [h.s] (Completed)

Chapter 53

"When tears come streaming down your face
'Cause you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
What could be worse"

Harry leaves Tokyo and flies back to Los Angeles. He has a few meetings here before he is going to head back home to London. He gets driven to his place and as soon as he is in the door his phone rings. It's Jeff, his manager.

"Hey," he answers it.

"Hey, how was your flight?"

"Fine," Harry says, not elaborating.

"What's wrong?"

Jeff has known him for the nearly a decade, before he was ever his manager. They've spent a lot of time together over the past two years, getting his album recorded and promoted. All of the press events and tour dates. He's more like his best friend than his manager.

"Amy and I broke up."

"What?! What happened?"

"I fucked up."

"Oh man. The surprise didn't go well? Are you sure it's really over?"

"Jeff, she wanted to get away from me so badly that she purposely left her luggage behind, so yeah, I would say we're over."

"That sucks, H."

Jeff is the first person he has told. He hesitated to tell anyone in Tokyo or even on the plane. Knew it would become real as soon as he said it. It felt like it was just a bad dream and now, well now he's woken up and it's still true. It feels worse than any nightmare he's ever had.

He had the girl of his dreams. She was smart, always carrying around a book wherever she went and suggesting things for him to read. She was so funny and witty, bantering with her was one of his favorite things to do. She was incredibly thoughtful, if Christmas alone wasn't a good enough example, there were always the times when she knew exactly what he needed at any given moment. She was always more aware of his mood's and needs than even he was. She was so full of kindness, always willing to give people the benefit of the doubt and seeing the good in everyone. And she felt so bad about the carbon footprint of flying so much that she started donating a portion of her pay each month to environmental charities and convincing Harry they should switch to a vegetarian diet to reduce greenhouse gases and free up land from cattle farming.

Of course, Amy was beautiful. Like holy shit, I can't believe she is with me sort of beautiful. Harry was attracted to her in a way that felt like the most natural thing he's ever done. Like his whole life was centered around meeting her. Being around her was easy. She felt like coming home after a perfect day at the beach. The feeling you get after you have a cool shower, washing off all the sand and sunscreen, and put on fresh clothes just before you fall asleep on the couch. Your body feels both warm and cool. And you feel both tired and rejuvenated. Like you could do anything or nothing, and either would be great. And you're happy. Happy and content and your heart feels full like it's overflowing remembering how good the day was. And hoping that you can have another perfect day like that one but never thinking it's possible. But with Amy, every day feels perfect. Doing mundane things like washing dishes. Doing exciting things like skinny dipping. Even fighting, which Harry doesn't enjoy, at least he was next to her. Next to her, no matter what they were doing, was always better than not with her at all.

Harry now sees everything he has lost. And he starts crying and he knows it's going to overpower him soon.

"Jeff, I gotta go," he says abruptly, trying to hide the sound of his voice cracking.

"H, wait..." Jeff starts but is interrupted by Harry.

"Email me the schedule. I'll be there," he says quickly before hanging up the phone.