Love Lost
me later, once he had calmed down
eft the hall to go back to classes, and Aubrey and Haru were alone. The others had been reluctant to leave Haru
d you' Haru said awkwardly,
eplied uncertai
g ahead now, though not looki
ome' Haru began, 'I…
Aubrey asked tentatively,
It wasn't something you said….' And then he broke
akly, eyes g
oice. 'You are…an incredible…ah….' He scratched hi
couraged. 'Tell me
ttle tense. He hunched h
elf to speak. 'You rem
his. But he did not interrupt H
d the lump in his throat, breathing slowly and deeply, calming his beating heart. 'I was always a weak pe
en't changed muc
hen, but when he looked at Aubr
y said, 'I was
the shoulder, sha
o learn to
.. s-
arn to stop apologi
e off then, sto
ubrey smiled with him. Ha
m, 'for being kind to me…fo
prob
Aubrey then, keeping his hea
g his head away. 'I'
ubrey said
f that I missed a lot of days of school when I was young. I stayed at home a lot, but my mother was always there to look after me when
tched him
their own group of friends, and I was always an outsider… because I spent so long out of school when I was sick… but my mother was always there to help
ubrey realised, 'the
hispered. 'A story about love and loss… b
favourite plays'
ogether before him, s
it took just one push, one act of bravery. I was able
d as he could to stop hi
r….' Aubrey ask
himself, 'I mustn't…I have to be
as Haru turned to face him, gasping, froz
bleeding' A
d going to his mo
Aubrey told
urning seconds later
the tissue to Haru's lip
u' Haru m
him. 'I want to help you like she did, you have friends now.' He smiled warmly at H