Hole in My Heart

Hole in my heart

The Cure

-Six months earlier, George's 23^rd Birthday-

"Happy Birthday, George!"

"Angelina?!"

Blue eyes locked hazel as they gazed at each other, both wondering why she was there. She'd changed. A lot. George had always remembered Angelina as having long, dark hair and a bright smile. Now her hair was short, in a neat bob, and was lighter. It was different, but a good different. The smile had vanished, however. In it's place was a shadow of a smile, turned up at the corners, but grim. Her sparkle had gone.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, cringing at how blunt he sounded.

She hesitated. "I wanted to give you this," she said as she thrust a neatly wrapped gift into his hands.

"Oh. Well, thanks."

"You're welcome," she mumbled. "Can I come in?"

George nodded. "Of course." He motioned for her to follow and walked slowly into the combined living room and kitchen. He heard the door click as she closed it behind her, and her light footsteps hurrying behind him.

"Tea?"

Angelina stared at him blankly.

"Would you like a cup of tea?" he repeated, blushing.

"Oh. Yes. Yes, please."

George busied himself, switching on the kettle, selecting mugs, adding tea bags. He felt her eyes on the back of his neck, but he refused the urge to look at her. She watched him, wringing her hands, not knowing where to begin.

Once the kettle had boiled, George slowly filled the mugs with scalding water and added milk. He stirred both slowly, thinking. Why was she here, after two years? He couldn't work it out.

"Here you go," he mumbled, handing her a mug and sitting down on the sagging couch. She thanked him and sat down beside him, perching on the edge. It made him nervous.

They drank in silence for a while. The tension sliced at them like a knife. Neither knew what to say or what to do.

"Angie?"

She turned to face him, startled. Her eyes filled with tears and she stood up. "Don't call me that."

He sat and stared at her, not realising his mistake. She folded her arms across her chest and sniffed. Then he remembered. Fred had always called her Angie. She was Angelina. When had he started thinking of her as Angie?!

"Oh, Angelina... I'm so sorry! I didn't think!"

A sob escaped from her closed lips as she stumbled over to him and into his arms. She laid her head on his shoulder and cried her heart out. "I miss him so much!" she gasped, in between each sob.

"Me too," he mumbled into her hair. "I'm so, so sorry!"

She cried harder and didn't reply. He gently stroked her back and waited for his own tears to fall. They never did. Despair gripped his heart. If he couldn't grieve for his brother now, when would he ever be able to?

"I really admire you, George! How can you be so strong?"

The question surprised him, and as he opened him mouth to reply, he realised that he simply did not know. He closed it again. Shrugged his shoulders and shook his head sadly.

Angelina nodded and buried her face in his chest. He smelt familiar and comforting. It felt like she was home at last, and this worried her. She loved Fred after all, not George. So why did it feel so good being in his arms like this?

She raised her head to look into his eyes. Sorrow filled them, and she understood. They needed each other if they were ever going to live without Fred. George met her gaze and held it. They were so close she could count every freckle on his face. He had less than Fred...

This thought was interrupted by his mouth on hers, crushing and desperate. He pulled her closer to him so she almost on his lap and kissed her like a man drowning in grief, which he was, she later realised. Hardly registering what she was doing, she returned the kiss and it deepened. Hands began to explore, until George broke away, looking stricken.

"What am I doing?"

"George, It's okay, I..."

He shook his head forcefully and whispered: "But It's not though, is it? How can it ever be alright?"

Then tears started spilling down his face, as he cried for the first time since the death of his beloved twin. Angelina brushed his cheek with the back of her hand, and he held it there, closing his eyes. She smiled slightly, half torn with her love for Fred and her curiosity in George. He was so like his twin, yet so different.

She thought back to her first kiss with Fred, and the tears came once more. She leaned into George and they cried in each other's arms as they remembered the boy they both loved.

Later that night, when the tears had long gone, George and Angelina ate and talked about Fred, the past and the future. They even managed to laugh again.

Dear Fred,

Want to know the cure for a hole in the heart? It's love. Time helps. But it's love.

Love,

George

xxx

THE END