It had been over a week - Well, nine days to be exact - since Henry had, to all intents and purposes, been turfed out of Elizabeth's apartment abruptly after having such a nice evening up until that point. He had left his number for her but she hadn't called. Not that he ever expected her to.
Her car had remained in the same parking spot the whole time which either meant she was a creature of habit and always made sure to get the same spot every morning - Or she hadn't been back to campus to collect it!
Henry had been by her office a number of times during the week and never got an answer. He didn't want to worry - What Elizabeth did with her time was none of his business. She had made it abundantly clear that she wanted nothing to do with him and he wanted to respect that - But something was niggling at him to check on her.
She was on his mind all through his morning classes and by mid afternoon - He could no longer push those thoughts to the side. He figured, if she was on campus she would surely be in her lecture room - She may not want to see him but one thing he knew for certain was that she cared deeply for her students.
Henry timed it so that he could hopefully catch her in between classes so was rather taken aback when Professor Armitage was inhabiting the space Elizabeth should be in.
"Hey Melissa - I was hoping to catch Elizabeth! Is she in?" Henry tried to keep his tone nonchalant.
"Oh hello Henry - I'm afraid not! She hasn't been in since the latter end of last week."
"Do you know why?"
"I'm guessing she's sick but honestly - I have no idea! All I know is that I'm covering all of her classes until she's back, which, to be honest, is a real inconvenience."
"That doesn't sound good." Henry stuck his hands in his pockets and tried to hide his concern. "She promised to lend me her copy of 'A Theory Of Justice' but if she's not here I guess I'll check back next week."
Professor Armitage smiled "You don't have your own copy of 'A Theory Of Justice'? That's a little unusual for an ethics scholar, isn't it?"
Henry scrabbled for an explanation "I misplaced mine a while ago and I needed to reference it for a class."
"I'm pretty sure there's a copy in the library, Henry."
"Oh yeah - Of course! Thank you." Henry quickly made his way out of the classroom into the corridor. He really hated being put on the spot, especially when he couldn't come up with a well timed explanation.
As he was considering his next course of action he was approached by a student.
"Excuse me - Do you happen to know if Professor Adams is back in yet?"
"Ummm - No, apparently she's still out sick."
"Damn it! I really needed to speak to her. Do you know when she'll be back in?"
"I don't, I'm afraid. Professor Armitage is covering her classes so if it's a course issue I'm sure she could help?"
"No, it's a personal issue. I missed an appointment with Professor Adams last week and when I got back on Monday she wasn't in and I wanted to explain."
Henry had a sudden realisation "Blake?"
"Yes?" Blake looked at Henry with a quizzical expression.
"It's nice to meet you Blake, I'm Dr McCord. Elizabeth — Sorry, Professor Adams was looking for you last Wednesday and is aware that your mother had an accident and you'd gone home to be with her. Is your mom okay?"
"Oh yes, she's fine! She had to spend a few days in hospital as she had a slight concussion but she's on the mend now, thank you."
"I am glad to hear that, Blake. I'm sure Professor Adams will be pleased to hear that everything worked out alright."
"Yeah — I was really hoping she'd be back in today, it's really important that I speak to her."
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Thank you but no — It's really Professor Adams I need to see. She's been helping me sort out my workload and I need to discuss my options with her. I do hope she comes back."
Henry was confused by Blake's choice of words "Why wouldn't she come back?"
Blakes sudden realisation that he had clearly said the wrong thing panicked him "Uhhh - No reason. I just meant that I hope she's back in soon."
"Blake —?"
"I should go - I have a lecture. Thank you for your time Dr McCord." Blake hurried off down the corridor leaving Henry more concerned than ever. The only way to know if Elizabeth was okay was to go and find out for himself.
Having been home, freshened up and picked up supplies on the way — Henry was now standing outside Elizabeth's door starting to worry whether his care for her could possibly be misconstrued as stalker-like behaviour.
He was deeply concerned about her, and not just because she hadn't been at work for over a week - Illness was a perfectly normal part of life, especially as a teacher where germs were abundant on a daily basis - But something deep inside Henry had been alerting him to the fact that things with Elizabeth just weren't right. Her behaviour had been erratic to say the least, switching frequently between all out hostility and borderline flirting. He knew so little about her yet felt as if he'd been waiting for her his whole life.
With another steadying breath, he knocked firmly on her door. In all honesty, he was fully expecting to get no answer and have to retreat to his car feeling like a bigger fool than he did already. So, when the door opened ever so slightly - Henry was caught off guard.
"Elizabeth - I wasn't sure you'd answer. How are you?"
"What are you doing here Henry?"
"I was worried about you. I could make up a whole bunch of excuses but they wouldn't be true. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
The door opened a little wider and he finally got a glimpse of Elizabeth. She was dressed in a tatty old Metallica shirt and a pair of joggers that looked two sizes too big. Her hair looked as if it hadn't been brushed for days and there were dark circles under her eyes, which were also red and puffy - A clear sign that she had been crying. To Henry — Elizabeth just looked broken.
"You didn't need to come all this way —" Her voice was barely audible "But you can see I'm fine."
"You don't look fine, Elizabeth."
"Gee - Thanks! I wasn't expecting company."
"Can I come in? I have supplies." He held out the plastic bag with an expectant smile "I come bearing chicken soup, ice-cream, red wine and these —." He handed her a bunch of yellow roses "I thought you might need some cheering up."
"Why are you doing this?" She looked genuinely confused. "You barely know me."
"Because I want to! So - Do I get to come in or —?"
Elizabeth moved backwards and gestured for Henry to come in.
As he followed her into the living room, Henry noticed the cups collecting on the coffee table, the photo albums strewn across the floor and the scrunched up tissues scattered all over the couch. It was a stark contrast to the home he'd seen the week before - And so was Elizabeth.
Henry continued into the kitchen and placed the bag on the worktop.
"What would you like to start with? The soup or the ice-cream?"
Elizabeth just shook her head "I'm not hungry."
"You're sick, you need to try and eat something. If you don't fancy soup maybe I can rustle up an omelette or something?"
"I'm not sick." She padded back through and curled up on the couch.
Henry placed the ice-cream in the freezer, the soup in the fridge - noticing the severe lack of food in there, and then joined her on the couch.
"I don't want to pry and I'm not here to make you feel uncomfortable in any way. But if you want to tell me what's going on - I'm here to listen."
Elizabeth looked at Henry and broke down, burying her face in a cushion as her body shook.
"Oh Elizabeth - Come on!" Henry shifted along the couch and pulled her into a hug. "It's ok."
"It's not ok! It's never going to be ok and the more I desperately try to move forwards, the harder my memories pull me back." Her tears were soaking through Henry's shirt as she clung to him.
She had pushed him away time after time and yet right at that moment, she craved the comfort he was offering.
Henry did the only thing that felt right in the moment - He held her tight and let her cry. He had no idea what or who her tears were for, but that would be a conversation to be had when she felt ready. He was just extremely grateful for his own intuition.
As Elizabeth calmed, she loosened her grip on Henry's shirt and moved herself back against the arm of the couch.
"I'm so sorry! I'm not usually this emotional."
"You have nothing to apologise for Elizabeth. I only wish I'd checked on you sooner. And I meant what I said - I'm not here to cajole you into sharing your life story with me. I'm here as a friend in whatever way you need."
"Urghhhhh god - Look at me! I'm such a mess! Emotionally and physically!"
Henry smiled at her and squeezed her hand "When did you last eat something?"
Elizabeth shrugged "I'm not sure to be honest."
"And I'm guessing by the fact your car is still parked in the same spot on campus, you haven't been out either?"
She shook her head.
"Ok! I'm going to pop out and get you some groceries because there is literally nothing in your fridge. Why don't you go and have a bath and hopefully, if I'm lucky, you'll let me back in." His smile instantly put Elizabeth at ease.
"I can't ask you to do that."
"You didn't! Right now, you need a friend and I'm more than happy and willing to take the job. So - Pour yourself a glass of wine, go and have a soak in the bath and I'll be back in a bit - Ok?"
With a nod, Elizabeth agreed "Thank you Henry! Not many people would have put up with with my shit and stuck around."
"Yeah well - Not many people would be worth sticking around for."
Elizabeth prised herself off the couch and padded through to the bathroom, stopping in the doorway and turning back.
"Hey Henry —."
He looked up with the warmest smile "Yeah."
"I'm glad you're here."
By the time Henry returned, Elizabeth was out of the bath, hair washed and dishwasher loaded. She had put the roses in a vase, opened the wine and was laying on the couch when he knocked on the door.
"You came back?!" She wasn't entirely sure whether it was a statement or a question.
"Of course I did! I must say - I'm relieved that you opened the door though." Henry laughed but it had definitely been a concern.
"Well - You did bring me flowers and wine, not to mention the ice-cream and soup because you assumed I was sick — So it would have been poor form to leave you standing out on the sidewalk."
"Aaaand - I've brought you enough provisions to keep you going for the next week. Do you feel like eating anything yet?" Henry carried the bags through to the kitchen and started putting things away.
Elizabeth watched him moving around her kitchen and smiled "You seem to be making yourself quite at home here, Henry!"
He stopped in his tracks and looked up with a worried expression. "I'm sorry - I didn't mean to overstep, I just wanted to help. I'll go if you want me to."
Elizabeth shook her head "No - I don't want you to go. That wasn't a criticism, Henry! I told you, I'm glad you're here."
"Okay - So, do you want to eat something?"
"I really don't have much of an appetite but I do think I owe you an explanation so maybe you can pour yourself a glass of wine and we can talk?"
"You don't owe me anything at all, Elizabeth."
"All you have ever done is try to welcome me into an environment I wasn't used to. You have been kind, considerate and thoughtful. But more than anything else Henry - You've been so incredibly patient —."
"I've just been me."
"Henry! Do you ever let anyone finish a sentence?" Elizabeth giggled "Just listen!"
"Sorry."
"I know I don't owe you anything - But I want to explain why I find it so difficult to be around you. I need to share a difficult part of my past with you so that maybe it might free me from its clutches. I'm just scared that it will change your perception of me."
"I'm here to listen! There's nothing you could tell me that would ever distort my opinion of you. You can trust me, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth grabbed another glass from the cabinet and poured in a large amount of wine - Handing it to Henry as she walked past him.
"I'm driving —." He attempted to protest but it was futile.
Elizabeth smiled "So - Call a cab! You can't leave me to drink alone Henry! And trust me when I say you'll need something a little stronger than coffee to get through this particular conversation — And I know I sure as hell do."
Elizabeth curled herself into the corner of the couch, knees pulled to her chest, wine cradled in her hands. Henry could see she was nervous, her nails tapping against the glass, teeth chewing on her bottom lip. Whatever it was she had to tell him was clearly a very big deal — And he felt lucky that Elizabeth felt comfortable enough with him to let her guard down.
"You know you don't have to tell me anything —."
"Yeah - I do! Just give me a minute here, okay."
Elizabeth took a deep breath and looked at Henry, a look that slightly unsettled him and made his heart ache for her all at once. A look that told him he was about to be let into her world — But at what cost to her. She took a big mouthful of wine, swallowed thickly and began…