Finding Love

CHAPTER 9 - Harrowing

Harrowing Memories of Henry

Three years ago

Christian got out of his car, bouncing up, excited to tell his best friend about his weekend, also worried because he didn't see him at school today.

He took off his shades, his hair still damp and silky from his after practice shower, the sun reflecting on his skin. He quickly scanned the building, checking if Mr or Mrs Montano were home.

He was certain Henry was home though, his window was always closed as long as he was in the room. It was a thing they had come up with when they were younger, closing the blinds and windows when they're in and leaving it open when they're out.

He closed his car door, making his way towards the entrance of the house, the door was locked. He rang the bell and after a few minutes of no one coming after the bell, he turned around to the flower pot sitting by the bench to get the spare key.

He picked up the pot housing a large sunflower, he tilted it upwards, but couldn't find the key, he looked around and then remembered, he dipped his hand into the flower pot, bringing out a silver key.

He inserted the key into the lock and made his way into the familiar house which he knew and spent almost all of his time in.

It was dark, seeming almost empty but he was certain someone was home, he was assured Henry was in here, despite the desolation the house seemed to appear in.

He walked slowly through the hall, digesting the memories framed in the walls. He never got tired of looking at the pictures.

Himself and Henry called it the hallway of memories, it was filled with paintings and pictures of so many places the family had visited. They took family vacations very seriously, on very few occasions, his own family joined theirs to a particular location of their choice. The Montano family were like siblings to the Doubek's.

Their children practically brothers.

He got to the door, Henry's  door and turned the knob but it didn't open, it was locked. He knocked and got no response.

"You okay?" he asked.

No reply.

He knocked again and still got no reply. He noticed faint cried from the other side of the door, "Henry!" He shouted.

Still no reply but whimpers and sniffles.

"Okay I'm coming in," he announced, walking away from the  door.

He went to the guest bathroom by the hallway, opened the cupboard behind the mirror just by the sink and took out a bunch of keys. He quickly walked back to the door, opened it and was met by a red eyed puppy o n the large king sized bed.

The other boy had cried his eyes out.

"Whoa what's wrong, you're not okay." Christian stated, though it came out as a question than an observation.

Henry looked at him, held his stare and nodded.

"Didn't tell me you wouldn't be coming to school today," Christian said softly, closing the door behind him.