Chapter 12

Howard's POV

I had just gotten home from the restaurant, still reeling from the unexpected turn of events. The evening was supposed to be a happy one, a celebration of love, but it had ended in confusion and worry. Cassandra's absence had thrown everything into chaos, and now Hale was missing too. I had been calling and texting Hale for hours, but she's not answering. Each time my call went straight to voicemail, my anxiety grew. Where could she be? Why won't she pick it up?

As I paced back and forth in the living room, my mind drifted to my memories. I thought about my late wife, Grace, and the way her eyes sparkled with excitement during her pregnancy. She had been so full of life and love, always talking about the future and how we would raise our child together.

I remembered her holding her growing belly, promising that she would always protect our baby.

The day Grace died, she made me promise that I would be the one to protect our child. Hale had been my world ever since, the reason I kept going, the light in my darkest days. But now, with Hale missing, I felt like I was failing that promise.

I couldn't find her, and the fear of losing her too was tearing me apart. I continued pacing, my mind a whirlwind of anxiety and painful memories. Hours passed, each minute dragging on endlessly.

Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, I heard a faint noise at the front door. Rushing over, I saw Hale standing there. Her eyes were puffy from crying, and her outfit was dirty, smudged with dirt and leaves.

"Hale!" I exclaimed, rushing to her side. "What happened? Where have you been? I've been so worried!" She tiredly looked up at me, her expression a mix of relief and sorrow. "Dad… it's been a nightmare."

I guided her inside and sat her down on the couch. "Tell me everything," I urged gently. "Start from the beginning." Hale took a shaky breath, her voice trembling as she began to speak. "I went to the park after Cassandra didn't show up. I needed to clear my head, to think. Mia found me there and told me she had seen Cassandra with Theo.

I couldn't believe it, so I went to see for myself. They were together, celebrating, and I was left alone."

I felt a surge of anger and protectiveness. "Those jerks," I muttered, clenching my fists. "I'm so sorry, Hale. You didn't deserve that." She nodded, tears welling up again.

"I couldn't stay there. I got on my bike and just drove, trying to escape the pain. I ended up in a forest, out of gas, with no phone signal. I was stranded, Dad." I can't imagine the pain that Hale has been through, my heart is aching for her.

"How did you get back?" "I heard someone crying and found a woman named Chiara. We managed to get to the road and flagged down a car. A kind woman gave us a ride to town." I hugged her tightly, feeling the weight of her ordeal.

"I'm so glad you're safe. I can't imagine how scared you must have been." Hale clung to me, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just feel so lost, Dad. Everything I thought was real… it's all gone." I pulled back and looked into her eyes.

"You're not alone, Hale. I'm here for you, no matter what. We'll get through this together." She nodded, a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Thank you, Dad. I don't know what I'd do without you." As I held her close, I remembered the promise I had made to Grace. I had vowed to protect our child, and I would keep that promise. No matter how long it took, I would make sure that Hale know she is loved and valued. We will face the future, one step at a time, together.

***

It's been a week since Hale came home, and nothing I do seems to help. She sulks in her room, the door always closed, the curtains drawn. She won't come down to eat, won't even speak to me. Every time I bring her food, she just covers herself with her comforter, retreating further into her shell.

I've tried everything I can think of to comfort her. I've talked to her, reassured her, even tried to make her laugh with stories from the old days. But nothing works. She barely responds, and when she does, it's just a mumbled "I'm fine, Dad."

I stand outside her door now, a tray of food in my hands. "Hale, sweetheart, I've brought you something to eat," I call softly. There's no response, just the faint sound of her breathing. I knock gently, then open the door a crack.

The room is dim, and Hale is a lump under her comforter. I place the tray on her desk and sit on the edge of her bed. "Hale, you need to eat something. You can't keep doing this to yourself."

The only response is a slight shift under the blanket. I feel a pang of helplessness. What else can I do? My mind flashes back to Grace again, to the promise I made to protect our child. I'm failing. I can't reach her, can't pull her out of this darkness.

Taking a deep breath, I will try again. "Hale, I know you're hurting. And it's okay to feel that way. But shutting yourself off from the world isn't going to make it better. You need to let me help you. Please, let me in."

There's a long silence, then a muffled voice. "I know that you are trying your best to help me, I just don't know what to do, Dad."

My heart aches at her words. "We'll figure it out together. One step at a time, okay? Just... start by eating something. And maybe, come downstairs for a bit. We can watch a movie or just sit together. You don't have to do this alone."

For a moment, there's no response. Then the comforter shifts, and Hale's head peeks out, her eyes red and swollen. "Okay," she whispers. "I'll try."

I nod, offering a small smile. "That's all I ask. Just try."

I leave the room, hoping that this small step will lead to bigger ones. I still feel helpless, but maybe, just maybe, we're starting to find a way forward.

***

We are finally positioned on the sofa, a blanket draped over us. Hale is curled up next to me, looking fragile but at least she's out of her room. I can see the struggle in her eyes, the weight of everything she's been through.

"What do you want to watch?" I ask her gently, hoping to find something that might lift her spirits, even if just a little.

She shrugs, looking down at her hands. "I don't know," she murmurs.

I think for a moment, searching for something that might bring a bit of comfort. Then it hits me. "How about we watch an old favorite of mine? It's a movie your mom and I used to watch together."

She looks up, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Which one?"

I smile softly. "It's called 'August Rush' your mom and I loved it, and I think you might too. It teaches us that certain barriers in life can only be overcome if you have faith and take the plunge."

Hale nods, a small, tentative smile tugging at her lips. "Okay. Let's watch it."

I put the movie on and settled back into the sofa. As the opening credits roll, I glance at Hale, hoping this small connection to the past might help her. As the story unfolds, I can see her gradually getting absorbed in the movie. Her body relaxes slightly, and for the first time in days, I see a spark of life in her eyes.

As we watch, I share how Grace and I used to cuddle on the sofa just like this. Hale listens, occasionally glancing at me with a mixture of sadness and warmth.

By the time the movie ends, there's a palpable sense of peace in the room. Hale leans her head on my shoulder, sighing softly. "Thanks, Dad," she says quietly. "I needed this. Thank you for not giving up on me."

I wrap my arm around her, holding her close. "I would never give up on you, sweetheart. If you fall, I will catch you. If you had become astray, I'll lead you to the right path. If you become weak, I will strengthen you. We'll get through this, one step at a time, together."

In that moment, with the echoes of Grace and I's favorite movie lingering in the air, I feel a glimmer of hope. Hale is still hurting, but she's here, and she's trying. And that's enough for now.

***

Hale is finally joining me in eating, and it's a fresh start compared to sulking in her room. We share a quiet meal, but the silence feels different now—less heavy, more hopeful. Seeing her eat and respond to my gentle attempts at conversation feels like a small victory.

As we finish up, an idea strikes me. Hale's best friend, Noah, has always been good at lifting her spirits. Maybe he can help where I can't. Excusing myself for a moment, I step into the other room and called Noah.

"Hey, Noah. It's Howard," I say when he picks up. "Listen, I need your help with something."

"Of course, Mr. Hawksley. What do you need?" Noah replied, sounding concerned.

"It's about Hale. She's been really down lately, not leaving her room much." I said. "Maybe that is the reason why she is not responding to my texts," He replied.

"Yeah, I think she needs a change of scenery, some time with a friend. Do you think you could take her out for a bit? Maybe blow off some steam?"

"Absolutely," Noah said. "I'll be there in an hour." He said without hesitation.

I thank him and hang up, feeling a bit more at ease. When I return to the dining room, Hale looks up at me, a question in her eyes.

"What's going on, Dad?" she asks.

"I just called Noah," I said, sitting back down. "I thought maybe you two could hang out for a while. Get out of the house, do something fun."

Hale looks uncertain, but she nods slowly. "Okay. I'll give it a try."

An hour later, the doorbell rang, and I open it to find Noah standing there, a smile on his face. "Hey, Mr. Hawksley. Hi, Hale."

Hale greets him with a small but genuine smile. "Hi, Noah."

Noah looks at her with a mix of concern and determination. "Ready to go? I thought we could grab some ice cream and maybe take a walk somewhere."

Hale glances at me, and I nod encouragingly. "Go on. Have some fun."

As they leave, I feel a sense of relief. Hale is taking another step forward, and she's not alone. Noah will be there to help her, to remind her that there's still joy to be found, even in the hardest times.

I watched them go, feeling hopeful for the first time in a while. Hale is starting to find her way back, and with friends like Noah, I know she'll get there.

(⁠ﾉ⁠◕⁠ヮ⁠◕⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠*⁠.⁠✧(⁠ﾉ⁠◕⁠ヮ⁠◕⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠*⁠.⁠✧(⁠ﾉ⁠◕⁠ヮ⁠◕⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠*

A/N

I love you, Howard and Noah(⁠っ⁠.⁠❛⁠ ⁠ᴗ⁠ ⁠❛⁠.⁠)⁠っ