Howl

Chapter 15:

Chapter 15:

She's dead.

I couldn't imagine the pain he's must've gone. The thought of loving someone and then dying is horrible. I loved my father so much, but for Harry, it's different, yet somehow closely the same. We had at least this other, sad thing, in common.

Good job, Aileen! You made the tension hard, my conscious told me.

I froze and felt my eyes widening. I put my hand on his shoulder. "Harry, I–I'm sorry. I didn't know."

He sent me a small sad smile. "It's okay, you didn't know."

"I'm sorry," I apologized again. "I didn't mean to–I'm sorry." I apologized once again.

"It's okay Aileen. But I would like to tell you."

"Are you sure? You don't have to tell me just because I just found out."

He nodded. "I want to tell you. You're like a little sister to me and you deserve to know." He thought of me as his little sister? I don't know whether to feel happy at his comment or sad and just break down crying after what he told me. "She had–she had tumor in her brain. But she didn't tell me; she kept it a secret, until she was hospitalized, a day later after being terminally ill at the hospital, she passed away."

I gasped. Oh my, poor Harry, I bet he was heartbroken and broken!

"It's been four years," He told me as he glanced at me and sent me a sad smile. "I'm much better now. I know that she's in a better place now."

I nodded at him and looked away from his gaze. I felt pity towards him.

I felt pity towards myself.

"Aileen," He said softly. I looked back at him. "That's why I want you to promise me to cherish your every moment with Zander, because, well, I never had that happen, and I want you to care for him and be there for him whenever he needs you."

I nodded at him and looked away once again. I couldn't help but think what if Zander was ripped away from me–away from my life. I couldn't help but think the worst. "Is there someone else out there for you?"

He shrugged. "There may be but who knows."

The whole drive to the dinner was silent and calm now. The drive to the city was about an hour or two, but as soon as we got there, he parked the car and we both got out. Before we went inside, Harry pulled my elbow and I turned around to face him.

"I've never told anyone, so thank you for taking this weight off my chest."

I nodded at him and hugged him. He must've been in shocked due to the hug because he froze as soon as I hugged him, but he eventually returned it. "I promise I'll cherish my every moment with Zander." I whispered.

"Thank you,"

With that, we both pulled away and we walked inside the restaurant. The hostess greeted us with a wide smile.

"We have a reservation for six thirty for Richards." Harry spoke. "Our parents may be already here, but we don't know yet if they are."

"I don't believe they're here yet." She looked down at her podium and smiled. "Of course Richards for four," She said grabbing four menus. "Right this way, guys."

Harry and I followed her through the whole dining room up until we got to the quietest place of the restaurant, with orchestra music playing through some speakers. The whole atmosphere was quiet and romantic. There were a couple of tables with people and a party in the back. Harry and I took our seats and thanked the hostess.