"I want to break off the engagement." Molly watched as her mother's expression turned from her usual happy to confused.
"Why would you want to do that?" She asked. "You and Mr. Holmes are getting along so well."
We were, Molly thought then shook her head. "We are not right for each other." Molly said. She didn't know how else to explain it to her mother.
"Not right for each other?" Mrs. Hooper practically screamed. "What do you mean?"
Molly looked at her mother. She wouldn't understand. Her mother had never felt heartbreak. Heartbreak? Was that truly what it was? Molly had tried to talk herself out of it. She had tried to tell herself that Sherlock meant nothing to her. She had tried over and over again to convince herself that her feelings were nothing but a made up fantasy, but they weren't. Over the years she had built up walls yet down they fell with a single kiss. She didn't want to face the truth. The truth that Molly Hooper was in love with a man that didn't love her back. That was the worst possible feeling for her.
"Mr. Holmes has no intention of getting married." Molly told her mother. It was true. She'd known it since the beginning.
"What do you mean?" Her mother asked.
Molly sat down in a nearby chair and took a deep breath. She had kept the secret from her parents for to long. She should of just told them the truth right away. If she had she wouldn't feel all of the pain that she currently did. She looked her mother in the eyes. They were so hopeful. They looked as if they thought that she was only going through a phase. That she would wake up tomorrow and say that she was mistaken. Molly wished that it was true. She wished it with all of her heart. But no matter how hard she wished it wouldn't come true. She too a deep breath. "There's something I haven't told you."
"So it's off?"
Sherlock nodded. "It's for the best." He said. "To be honest, it's a relief." John looked in to Sherlock's eyes. There was something in there that wasn't relief. Pain. Loss. Sorrow. Heartbreak. Did his friend truly love Miss Hooper? John had thought that Sherlock was incapable of love.
"Are you okay with it?" John asked his best friend.
"Of course I'm okay with it." Sherlock said to quickly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
John shrugged. "You could have developed a certain fondness for Miss Hooper."
Sherlock turned his gaze upon his friend. It scared him that John had come so close to the truth. "Why would I do that?" He tried to hide the fear in his voice.
"I don't know." John said. "I just thought since the two of you were spending so much time together..." He trailed off.
Sherlock glanced down at his feet for a brief second. He had developed a certain fondness for Molly. He didn't know why he had. He usually didn't get attached to people. She's the one who called it off, Sherlock told himself, she doesn't like you. If she did she wouldn't of called it off. Sherlock shook his head clear of such thoughts and glanced out the window. It looked as if it was going to rain. He would need to leave soon if he wanted to stay dry.
"I think I should leave." Sherlock told his friend. He took his coat from the coat closet and pulled on his hat and glove. "It was nice for you to have me over." He told his friend.
"It was a pleasure." John said more out of manners than actual sincerity. Sherlock nodded and left the house.
Sherlock was halfway home when it started to rain. "Great." He muttered sarcastically. He quickened his pace. The rain came down harder and harder until it got to the point were Sherlock could barely see a foot in front of him. He started running towards his house. He didn't want to be late for supper.
"Oof!" Sherlock ran in to a slight figure. The girl fell down on to the ground. Sherlock helped her up. As she stood up, Sherlock got a good look at her face. "Molly?" The name flew out of his mouth before he could stop it.
"Mr. Holmes." She said very stiffly. There was no kindness in her voice, and it scared Sherlock. She usually sounded so nice. It sounded foreign to hear coldness in her voice. She tried to rub the mud out of her skirt and failed. She began to walk in the other direction towards her house.
"Allow me to walk you home." Sherlock said. His house was only a street over in the other direction. Molly's was a few blocks away.
Molly looked him over. There was something in her eyes. What was it? Fear? "I am very capable of finding my house by myself." She said.
Sherlock nodded. "I'm quite sure that you are capable, but it's not safe for a woman to walk alone in the streets of London."
Molly seemed to take his words in to consideration. They were true. "You may walk with me if you wish." She finally said.
Sherlock smiled and they walked together in silence until they reached her house. "Are we still friends?" Sherlock asked Molly.
Molly hesitated for a moment then nodded. "Of course." She said. Sherlock watched Molly enter the house. Sherlock smiled to himself, even covered in mud and dripping wet she was beautiful.
By the time Sherlock Holmes got back to his house he was soaking wet and late for supper, but he didn't mind. Molly Hooper was a wonderful woman. It was a shame that she didn't feel the same way about him.