Can't Let Go
“Mom no!” Haruhi screamed as her mother collapsed on the staircase above her! “Mom!” She shouted again trying to get her attention. She began to run up the stairs after her mother when someone roughly grabbed her shoulder. She turned to be met with a mirror image of herself. “What are you doing we have to help her!” She yelled over the sound of the house collapsing. “Haruhi there’s nothing we can do! We have to get out!” Not giving her a chance to argue the other pulled her out of the house! “No! Mom!” She frantically searched for any sign of her mom! She saw her figure at the window but…no movement. She was just…standing there.
“Mom.” She muttered as her mother stood at the window holding her hand up to the window as though she were reaching out to touch something. “Let go Haruhi.”…Even though she was nowhere near her mother she could still somehow hear the words. She watched as the little apartment she had grown up in was destroyed…she turned to find comfort in the one person who had always been there for her, only for her not to be.-“Hanna!” Haruhi screamed as she bolted up in bed coated in sweat! She took a shaky breath muttering Hanna over and over to herself, as though she was searching for comfort in the name.
Haruhi trudged from class trying to just get through the day. Unfortunately for her it seems that everyone had noticed. She was joined on her walk to her last class of the day by the twins looping their arms through hers. “Haruhi are you alright you look terrible!” Hikarou blurted out not even thinking that what he said would be considered offensive. Karou tried to soften his brother’s blow by continuing softly “Yeah, you do look really tired. Did you sleeve at all last night?” Haruhi didn’t bother to speak as they walked into the class.
Haruhi was failing miserably at paying attention to the board. So she didn’t mind too much when she saw a paper on her desk that hand Karou’s handwriting on it. ‘Why didn’t you sleep last night?’ was scrawled on it. Haruhi sighed contemplating how much trouble writing what her actual reasons were would cause. She stared at her desk for a moment before deciding she trusted Karou. ‘Nightmares.’ She wrote back quickly passing it so that the teacher wouldn’t see. She didn’t want to see what his reaction would be so she forced herself to look forward and attempt to pay attention, so she didn’t notice when Karou gave his brother a concerned look.
The twins followed after Haruhi the whole way to the club not saying a word. Haruhi found it slightly unsettling. What made her even more upset was the fact she couldn’t get the image of her mom or Hanna out of her head! Finally she felt a hand touch her shoulder as they were getting ready to enter the club. She jumped but acted as though it were not a big deal. “What is it?” She asked trying to keep the ice out of her voice. “What were your nightmares about?” Karou asked her, she could see the concern in his eyes which gave her the idea he probably an experience in the nightmare department. She immediately became frustrated when she saw Hikarou was still there. “It’s nothing I shouldn’t have mentioned it.” Was all she said as they entered the room.
She could feel the twins glances throughout the entire club and her dread only grew worse when she saw them talking to Tamaki. “Boss we think something’s up with Haruhi.” Normally the twins would never have shown emotion in those words but he could tell they were bothered. While they had only known Haruhi for a few months they all cared about her. “Well what is it?” Karou hesitated knowing that she would feel betrayed that he had shared the information but found her health to be more important. “She told me she’s having nightmares and it looks as though she hasn’t slept in a week. She wouldn’t tell us what’s going on but we were hoping maybe she would tell you.” Tamaki looked over the brunette nervously before nodding. “I’ll try.”
Haruhi knew she was in trouble when felt that hand land on her shoulder and heard the charming voice of Tamaki asking to excuse them for a moment. She didn’t want to comply but she did, no reason to cause a scene. He led her into the kitchen not saying anything. He was giving her a chance to talk. “Tamaki sempai what did you need to see me about?” ‘Maybe if I act like I don’t know what going on he won’t think there’s anything wrong.’ “Haruhi Hikarou ad Karou told me what’s been going on…” There was moment of brief silence accompanied by an “Oh.”. “Look Tamaki sempai it’s really not a big deal. Everyone has them.” For some reason she had never liked saying the word.
“Haruhi there is something wrong and you know it. Nightmares aren’t supposed to affect people like this. You’re supposed to be a little shaken or think about it for a day at the most. The twins told me you’ve been like this for a week!” Haruhi could tell he was concerned and that’s all it was. Concern for his friend, but it still made her mad. “Tamaki sempai I don’t need any help ok! I just need to get through the day and go home. Now if you’ll excuse me I have customers to get back to.” She left no room for argument as she went back to her guests.
Haruhi could see Hanna from where she was on the stage. She always hated that stage, the things they made her do…She shook that off as she remembered she needed to help her sister. “Hanna!” She called to the other trying to get her attention. Hanna seemed to completely ignore her. Haruhi having enough of her sister not noticing her she climbed onto the stage grabbing her sister and shaking her hard by the shoulders! “Hanna we need to leave! This place isn’t safe! We’ve never been safe here!” Hanna finally made eye contact with Haruhi grabbing onto her tightly as though she never wanted to let go. “Haruhi go.” The girl whispered, the fear running through her voice. “No I’m not leaving without you!” Haruhi was froze to the spot at the look that ran across her sister’s face. “I’m not giving you a choice.” Before Haruhi had a chance to respond Hanna had pushed her off the collapsing stage and was already falling in! “Hanna no!” Haruhi tried to jump in after her but something held her back.
“NO!” Haruhi screamed as she jolted out of bed! She ran to the dining room table and hid under it. It was the only form of protection she could find at that moment and she couldn’t think of anywhere better to try and sleep. Sleep never did come though.
