My Life Without Her

-Him-

Eleanor's house hadn't changed at all since the last time I saw it, except that maybe the grass wasn't as green as it used to be and... the atmosphere was different, but aside from that, nothing about it had changed.

Eleanor and I had been standing outside on her yard for about five minutes, I think she just needed a moment to collect herself and realize that once she walked into that door, there would always be something missing and that nothing about that house would ever be the same.

"Do you want me to..." I asked and she shook her head

"No." She answered "I'm just... trying to remember it as it used to be, but... I can't." She blinked rapidly "Dammit, stop crying." She muttered to herself as she harshly wiped the tear away, causing me to chuckle "What's so funny?"

"I've just never heard you curse before." I answered with a lighthearted smile "At least I don't think I have." She barely cracked a smile and I wrapped my arm around her "It's going to be okay." I whispered as we started making our way towards the porch, she stood in front of the door and just stared at it "Do you have a key?" I asked and she shook her head as she reached for her purse and pulled out her keys

"Yeah, sorry." She apologized and I shook my head as she shakily put the key in the lock and twisted it so she door could open. She pushed it and it flung open, revealing an empty furnished house, it was silent. "Mom?" She called out as she glanced around and poked her head inside a couple of rooms on the ground floor, I set our bags down next to a couch on the living room and sighed quietly as I dug y hands into my pockets and glanced around, trying to remember it as best I could; the inside was a faint memory to me, except for her room and the outside of it since I spent most of my time in there "Where is she?" She said quietly, I lifted my gaze and saw a figure out on the backyard, I met her gaze and nudged my head in that direction, she followed my gaze and her eyes filled with sadness

"I'll go put your bag in your room." I said quietly as she made her way towards the back porch to her mother

******

They had been outside for about half an hour, but I knew it was best to give them their privacy; I know I wanted nothing more than to be left alone when my mother passed, but since I didn't really have anyone else it wasn't really a problem.

"Lucas?" I heard Eleanor's voice call out softly as her and her mother entered the living room with linked arms and the same puffy, bloodshot eyes with somber expressions "You remember my mother, right?" She said softly and I nodded as I made my way towards her and tried my best to muster a smile at her mother as she tried to do the same

"Of course, Mrs. Grey; lovely to see you again." I said and she nodded softly as she did the unexpected; she hugged me. I looked at Eleanor in shock as she bit her lip and her eyes filled with tears again as the woman in my arms clutched onto me tightly, so I wrapped my arms around her as well as I felt her sigh shakily into my chest "I'm sorry for your loss." I whispered, barely audible and she nodded as she dabbed her eyes with a napkin

"Thank you." She whispered "It's great to see you, too Lucas."She said and I smiled softly "Especially since I thought I'd never see you again." I glanced at Eleanor and she smiled softly at me as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear "How've you been?" She asked

"Great; I'm studying to be a doctor." I said and she looked at me with a smile

"So, I guess college did work out for you, then?" She asked and I chuckled softly with a nod "How's that little sister of yours?" She asked as she linked arms with me as we both made our way towards the couch to sit together "How old is she now?"

"Thirteen and beautiful as ever." I sighed with a smile as I pulled out her picture from my wallet, Eleanor's mom looked at me with a small smile "Just like our mother." She looked up at me and smiled sadly as she squeezed my forearm

"I'm glad you both are okay." She said and I nodded as I lifted my gaze to meet Eleanor's who smiled at me as she wiped her eyes and mouthed 'Thank you.'

******

"Well, it was lovely to talk to you again, Lucas, but I'm afraid I'll be heading up to bed." Eleanor's mom said as she stood up from the couch, I did as well "I'm sorry we don't have a guest room for you, but..." I shook me head

"The couch is fine ma'am, please, I want my sleeping arrangements to be the least of your worries." I said and she smiled gratefully at me as she pulled me into yet another hug

"Thank you for being here." She whispered "My daughter needs you." She said before pulling away and heading towards Eleanor and hugging her tightly "Goodnight, dear." She said as she pulled away "It's great to have you home again." She said as she pinched her cheek, Eleanor smiled sadly

"I'll come with you in a minute, mom." She said but her mom shook her hand in her direction

"It's fine dear, don't worry about me." She said before walking up the stairs and heading towards her bedroom

"Want to come upstairs for a minute?" She asked and I nodded softly as we made out way upstairs to the familiar place I knew as her bedroom, when she opened the door, it's like all our memories from here smacked me in the face as I stood by the door while she stepped in "You okay?" She asked and I nodded before shaking my head

"Yeah, just.... memories, is all." I said with a shrug and she nodded softly as she sat on her bed and sighed deeply

"It's exactly like I remember it." She breathed as tears prickled her eyes and she groaned loudly "Oh My God, what's with all the crying? It's like I'm pregnant or something." She muttered and I feared she was not joking as I looked at her in shock, she gasped as she shook her head "I'm not! I'm not pregnant!" She exclaimed as she groaned and covered her face with her hands "God, I'm so stupid, I'm sorry." She apologized and I shook my head softly

"It's okay." I said with a heavy sigh, I glanced at her balcony door and smiled softly "Remember when I used to sneak in through here?" I chuckled and she giggled softly

"Yeah, I also remember the night you slept over my mom almost saw you shirtless." She giggled and I chuckled as well while shaking my head

"Yeah..." I dragged out as I rubbed the back of my neck "I guess I'll just let you get ready for bed." I said as I stood up from her bed but she called my name

"Don't be ridiculous." She said as she grabbed my wrist "Don't sleep on the couch when my bed is big enough for the both of us." I blinked rapidly as I felt my mouth slightly go dry

"W-Won't it be w-weird?" I stuttered and she shrugged

"I haven't slept in three days and just talking to you on the plane helped me go to sleep." She muttered

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" I chuckled and she smiled

"Yeah, Luke, it is." She said softly "Please." She begged softly "I need you."

How could I say no to that?

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Just in case some of you don't follow me and haven't read my latest update I just wanted you to know that once 'Runaway 2' is over I will be going on a hiatus since I want to completely rewrite the 'Runaway Series'. I will still be on Wattpad, just not updating since I want to completely focus those two books because I'm proud of them and want to make them much better. I will also be changing the names and covers on both stories and will change that once the 'draft version' of Runaway 2 is completed but I will leave that as a surprise for later! Xx