Thank you all for the enthusiasm for the first chapter. I've decided to alternate perspectives, so there will be a lot of Harry and George. I rarely write in the first person, so I hope it's believable.
Harry
I rush in. I need to see her with a powerful urgency I can't describe. I've only just escaped from Mani's clutches, thanks to the grids diligent work and the first thing I did after securing my freedom is come here. My wrists still sting from the restraints I was in, but I don't care. I know they told me she was safe, but I need to see her with my own eyes. After three years, that's not too much to ask, is it? I don't even bother to knock, hurrying as if time is running out. Maybe it is.
Firstly, I see a man I don't recognise. Tall, dark and tanned. Judging by the look in his eyes, he's Ruth's partner. I can't even bring myself to think the word "lover" as it would crowd my head with too many images which I don't want to see. I'm putting that in a locked part of my head, to examine when I have more time. He has kind, wary eyes, and he doesn't like what he sees when he looks at me, it's obvious.
I turn, trying to find her which only takes a second. She's in front of me, realer than I'd dared hope. She's just as I remember her, with some improvements because my memory was clearly lacking. Her eyes are blue, bright and hold the hint of a smile for me. I let my eyes scan over her quickly, assuring myself that she is indeed in one piece. She is, and my eyes return to her face, tracing the path my fingers ache to touch. But I can't. All I want is to hold her in my arms and never let her go, after so long apart. But we have company, and I don't know what this man is to her. Her lips are parted slightly and she licks them. Does she know how erotic that is?
Have three years really passed since the last time I saw her? I can barely believe that. Seeing her again, so vivid and real tells me that I can't live without her. I thought I could. I've been pretending that I can, but I can't. It's been a half life, throwing myself into work because I have nothing else to live for. Now I'm seeing her again and I realise how pointless it all was. I don't need to have more than this. If all I ever have with her is the opportunity to look at her, I'll live with that. Easily. But I have missed her, terribly. Her wit, her intelligence, the way she looks at me. Like she's looking at me right now. Ruth sees me. She sees the man I really am, behind the persona I wear on the grid and even more remarkably, she respects that man too. Maybe even… no. I choke that thought off. She holds a cup of tea that she seems to have forgotten about.
"Harry." Her voice saying my name feels wonderful. The lilt and timbre of it hasn't changed one bit. I see her trying to hold back a smile, probably with the company we've got.
"Ruth," I respond. Her eyes brighten at me at the moment I speak her name and I wonder what she's thinking. Almost in the same instant we turn to the person who is the intruder to our reunion. His eyes are flicking between the pair of us and all I want is for him to leave. It won't be that simple.
More soon.