Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 52932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52932 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 265(@200wpm)___ 212(@250wpm)___ 176(@300wpm)
“She’s a lass I used to know,” I tell him. “Her father was the one we worked for, and there were… it was complicated. I broke her heart.”
“Hadrian, you can’t keep beating yourself up over the past,” Hades says, his tone gentle but firm. “Harley was strong. She’ll have moved on.”
“I know,” I say, though the words feel hollow. The idea of her moving on to someone else, married with perhaps a bairn on the way, doesn’t calm me down or relieve my anxiety. “But that doesn’t make it any easier. I can’t help but wonder if she’s still in South Shields living with her Da, or if she’s moved somewhere else in England, or if she’s thought about me at all.”
Hades places a hand on my shoulder, his grip reassuring.
“You did what you had to do. We both did. You can’t let the what ifs eat you alive.”
Racer steps forwards and says, “Mate, if she has moved on, then we’re here for you. It’s shite, no doubt, but you’ve seen how love works with Monster, Sully, Rebel, and even Tye. If it’s meant to be, then it will be. You can’t know for sure until you come face-to-face with the lass again. Worryin’ about it isn’t going to make it any better.”
“Aye, you’re right.” I nod in agreement. I know he’s right, but the thought of having to face her when she’s moved on with her life still stings.
“Racer is right,” Hades agrees. “Harley’s a strong, stubborn lass, and she’ll have healed from the past, just as you have.”
I look at the two of them, grateful for their support. “Thanks, lads. It’s just… I can’t shake this feeling. What if she’s still waiting for me? What if she hasn’t moved on?”
“Then you’ll find out,” Hades says simply. “And you’ll deal with it. But until then, stop torturing yourself. You’re a good man, Hadrian. You deserve to be happy.”
His words give me a measure of comfort, but the anxiety still gnaws at me. As we continue our walk through the warehouse, I try to focus on the present and the task at hand. But Harley’s face keeps creeping into my thoughts. A constant reminder of the unresolved feelings I still harbour for her.
We make our way to the back of the building where the shadows are darker, and the air feels heavier. This is the place where we made our final decision to leave. Standing here now, I feel a sense of closure, but I also can’t help feeling a sense of longing for the life I left behind.
Hades leans against the wall, his eyes scanning the room.
“Do you ever regret leaving?” he asks quietly.
I take a moment to think before answering. “Sometimes,” I admit. “But then I remember why we did. We wanted something better, something different, and that’s what we’ve built for ourselves.”
“Yeah, we have,” he says, a small smile playing on his lips. “But it’s still hard, isn’t it? Letting go completely.”
“It is,” I agree. “Maybe that’s part of the process. Maybe we never fully let go. Maybe we just learn to live with it.”
“I’ve walked away from many people and situations in my life,” Racer says as he stops beside me and places his hand on my shoulder in a show of support. “But I’ve found a family now, and as much as I miss certain things that I’ve left behind, I know it’s for the best. At least I’m still alive,” he tells me, and I want to delve deeper.
Racer has always been rather quiet and doesn’t talk much, especially about himself. I know he’s not reserved, because he enjoys partying with the rest of the lads, but there’s always been a part of him that he’s kept hidden. I can see it in his eyes.
“Aye,” I say then, “I’ve always felt guilty about the girl I left broken-hearted, but in moving on, we found where we belong.”
Hades nods. “You’re right. Have you thought about what you’ll do if you do see Harley again?”
I let out a heavy sigh. That question’s been weighing on me. “I have, but I don’t have any answers. I don’t even know if she wants to see me. But if she does…if there’s still something there… I’ll figure it out. One step at a time.”
“Good,” Hades says, clapping me on the back. “That’s all any of us can do.”
We stand there in silence for a while longer, lost in our own thoughts. The warehouse, once a place of secrets and danger, now feels like a place of reflection and possibility. The past moulded us into the people we are today, but it’s the choices we follow through on that shape our future.
Eventually, we make our way back to the entrance. The dim light of the setting sun casting long shadows across the floor. As we step outside, the cool evening air fills my lungs. It’s a reminder that the world is still turning, that life goes on.