Page 165 of Meet Me at the Metro

Nora’s hand tightening around mine is the only anchor holding my mind from losing itself in the recollection of that night—my father’s death.

“Theo,”she breathes. “I can’t imagine. I’m so sorry. No one should ever have to experience something likethat.”

Her arms wrap around me, offering a sense of comfort I never thought I’d be capable of experiencing after my father’s death—one I’ve never felt that I deserved.

Nora is solace.

I lift her into my arms, deepening our embrace as I nuzzle my head between the crook of her neck and breathe in her scent.

“I’m sorry it took so long for me to tell you.”

“No. Do not apologize, Theo. Look at me. I will never be mad at you for waiting to tell me about your dad until you were ready. You understand?”

I nod in acknowledgment.

Nora holds so much of the world’s grace at just her fingertips. A single word from her could silence every remnant of self-loathing inside me forever. It could rock every fragment of guilt or blame that I possess to sleep. I only hope to offer her the same consolation she so often lends me.

“I didn’t want to weigh you down with the truth,” I confess, eyes watering with tears of relief—freedom. “Somedays, it feels like I can hardly bear to carry it myself, and you already take on so much that isn’t yours. I was scared it would all be too heavy for you.”

With glassy eyes and a flushed nose, she says, “Then you underestimate my strength.”

I let out a soft, strained chuckle at that. “I know better than to do thatnow.My stubborn thing.”

With a gentle knuckle, I guide the stray strands of her honey-brown hair away from her face. She gifts me a brief flash of her gorgeous smile before it fades into a solemn expression again, and she tentatively asks, “Whatever happened to the driver? Why would someone do what they did?”

I try to stifle the sudden heat of anger rushing through my veins before I grant her an answer. “Because he was drunk and selfish enough to put himself behind a steering wheel. But you know what the most fucked up part about it is?”

“Hmm?”

“Istillfind ways to blame myself.”

Nora shakes her head vehemently. “It was never your fault.”

“Then, if you can believe that for me, I need you to believe it for yourself, alright? What happened to Harvey isn’t your fault. Promise me that you’ll at least try to believe that for me.”

“I promise I’lltry.” I draw her into my arms, fighting the cold of the early morning together. After a long moment of quiet, Nora admits, “I’m so worried for Harvey.”

It was a fight to overcome the surge of emotions threatening to steal my sanity at the reminder of my friend. “I am, too. But I know he’ll pull through this. Harv’s resilient.”

“What if they can’t find John, though? W-what if he tries doing this again?”

“I’m not going to let him hurt you again.”

“I’m more worried about you. What if, even after tonight, he’s not done? What if they don’t find him before he comes looking for you again?”

“I’m going to be okay,” I lie, unable to guarantee her any ounce of truth to that statement. Until the police find John, there’s a risk. “They’ll find him.”

Nora goes silent beside me, undoubtedly losing herself in the roaring thoughts inside her head. I say what I can to keep her from slipping back into trepidation again.

“I love you. You know that?”

“I love you,Teddy.”

“We’ll make it through this,” I tell her, honestly, this time.

We quietly watch as the rising sun peeks over the horizon in the distance, painting the black sky a deep, rich purple, and as I stare off into it, I really believe it—that we’ll be alright. With her by my side, I know it has the potential to be true.

Because, after all, she and I are just as deserving of a happy ending as anyone else in this damn world.

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