Ruth had listened to her new prized Shuffle single selection more times than she would like to admit, in fact it was on constant, unstoppable, glorious repeat all the way home.
It was the best part of her day.
Her hope.
And the intensity of her reaction to it was still a surprise.
A wonderful surprise.
The worst part of her day was not seeing Harry, who had been conspicuously absent after her return. And yet she was relieved, what would she have said to him. What would he have said to her.
She did wonder what he had thought to her musical answer.
Had he understood. Had she been too flippant.
She sighed before getting lost once more somewhere deep under Harry's skin.
Home finally, this time on a considerably less packed tube, she headed for the kitchen and a glass of wine. But tonight the drinking of it felt like a celebration. Progress. A celebration of progress.
Yet who was she kidding. For them progress consisted of two songs, neither of which really said anything, both which could be considered tongue in cheek. Both slightly ambiguous perhaps.
Still, it was something and that something had made her feel young again, fresh again, lifted up by life again.
And she wasn't going to knock that.
Glass in hand she tried not to stumble over Fidget whilst reaching out to switch on the small lamp in the living room.
A warm glow illuminated her but there was something else … a low hum that had begun with the click of the switch. Nervously she turned around.
In the corner of the room the music system was illuminated and the CD display was flashing.
It was then that the music began.
Her breath caught in her chest.
Harry had been here.
I'm running out of ways to make you see,
I want you to stay here beside me,
I won't be ok and I won't pretend I am
So just tell me today and take my hand
Please take my hand
Please take my hand
She crossed to the system and picked up the box which was laid across the top. Snow Patrol,' Just say yes'.
Her eyebrows raised, Harry never failed to surprise.
Her attention was drawn back to the music, to the lyrics, to what he was trying to tell her.
Just say yes, just say there's nothing holding you back
It's not a test, nor a trick of the mind
Only love
Just say yes, cos I'm aching and I know you are too
For the touch of your warm skin, as I breathe you in
I can feel your heart beat through my shirt
This was all I wanted, all I want
It's all I want
It's all I want
It's all I want
It's all I want
Ambiguity was gone.
My god she needed to get this track onto her Shuffle.
For two hours she sat in front of the speakers, every four minutes and forty one seconds she pressed play.
And every time she heard something new and every time she imagined something new.
And without doubt, she knew what he wanted.