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It all started when he moved to London. More than anything he needed a change of scenery and something new to get his teeth stuck into. He wasn’t happy at home, not that he was depressed, he just couldn't help but associate his home town with sadness. When his father left he watched his mother struggle, and yes things were far better now but the memories never left him.
The hustle and bustle of London was something that never failed to surprise Harry. Since moving he struggled to understand a Londoner's need to be constantly on the move and in a rush. A stark contrast to the calm of Cheshire. The move was needed, he had little to do back home and needed a new challenge and London seemed like the logical next step, or at least he thought.
Back home in Holmes Chapel, business for his little village bakery was booming. In his 2 years as owner he had turned it into a roaring success drawing visitors from the small town and beyond. Yeah, success was great, he had a little more money but he wasn’t all that happy so he upped and left. Cheshire would always be his home but he needed move on to something else or he would surely struggle.
A little after his 24th birthday he packed the last of his things and made the trip to London. Months had led to this move, finding a new home for himself was trickier than he planned. It wasn’t till now he realised how fussy he could be. He wanted a home, not just a flat or a house. He needed somewhere that felt like home to him even without his possessions. Almost having to fall in love with a place before he could settle. He eventually found a cozy 2 bedroom house in East London. And no, he didnt rent the house. This was his new home, mortgaged in the name of one Harry Styles, a resident now of the London borough of Tower hamlets, more specifically Bethnal green.
Alongside a house, he needed to set up shop somewhere. Hence his choice of Bethnal green, an up and coming area a stone's throw from the city, with plenty of opportunities for new shops to pop up. He settled on a narrow shop across the street from liverpool street station, slightly tucked away but he thought it was charming. Everyone knew this was just what he needed, even if he himself often questioned the change.
This was to be his first time properly living away from his family and setting up shop from scratch. But hey, life would be boring if you didn't test yourself every so often.
The weekend of the move went much simpler than he had expected. A natural worrier, he had planned each and every move they would make. What boxes went in which car, what could travel in the van, who was in what vehicle, the route they would take and the alternatives should there be traffic. If you thought it, he had already thought it and made a plan. By the time they arrived in london it was a little past lunchtime and he needed more than anything to get unpacking if he was to stick to the schedule.
His mum and older sister, Gemma, had made the journey with him. This to them was the first time their baby had flown the nest. Anne, his mum, would be going home to peace and quiet for the first time in years whilst Gem was proud to see her baby brother get out into the world. From the moment Harry was born and his father fled it had been the 3 of them, the 3 musketeers they would say. Nothing would stop them and they always found a way to deal with whatever life threw at them.
Despite knowing all this Anne couldn’t help but tear up watching as he unlocked the door to his new home. Nestled in a quiet side street, a 5 minute walk from the station, his new home. His new start in life. Before he knew it she had run up the steps and wrapped her arms round his middle holding him tightly. Startled by the sudden affection he soon relaxed, cuddling his mother close to him.
“What happened to no tears on moving day huh?” He questioned rubbing her back, soothing her the same way she would him.
“Scuse me mister, it's not everyday my baby boy buys a house in London. Besides, it’s happy tears. You need this and i'm happy as long as you are” She says smiling, tears rolling down her cheeks but her smile reassuring him. Giving her a tight squeeze he let's her go and pushes the door open stepping into the long corridor.
Stepping inside he lets out a breath he didn't realise he was holding. It was no surprise he was tense, who said moving was easy? Top to bottom the house still had its original wooden flooring, a living room off to the right and a kitchen at the end of the hall just as he remembered. This felt like home. Not quite his family home, but this was his home.
He had a few moments of peace just looking before he got back to work. The 3 of them unloading the car and the van, boxes in every room, furniture slowly being put together by the removal men.
By early evening he was mostly unpacked. He didn't have much ‘stuff’ as it were. Having lived at home his whole life he never had the space to accumulate much but what he had was enough.
The final job before he could relax was making his bed, a menial task he hated but he loved the feeling of fresh sheets. Taking his time to have a moment of peace after the mayhem was soon interrupted by his sister.
“Need a hand?” She asked. Before he could even say no she grabbed the pillows and began stuffing them into the cases.
“You know we’re proud of you right? I know mum just keeps crying and I'm not much better but it’s all good. This is good for you” she says reassuringly knowing this was probably one of the scariest thing he'd ever done.
He nods listening to her, probably the quietest he's been all day. “Don’t get me wrong, i'll miss home but sometimes you just need to go?” He says looking up hoping she would understand.
As much as he loved his home, he couldn’t help but associate it with heartbreak. They never moved after his father left and no matter how happy Robin made his mum, it just wasn't the same.
“You need to break free, see the world, be who you want to be and for gods sake stop worrying” she says with a chuckle. Trying to lighten the mood. It doesn't take too long for the pair of them to get the bed made, ready for his first night in his new home.
Seconds after the duvet has been neatly pulled over the bed she pulls him down with a thud, laughter filling the room and it doesn't take long before his mum comes into the room.
“You know what, I'm not going to ask,” she says smiling, looking at the two of them. As if they were still her babies and no time had passed since their childhood.
“I'm guessing this is the ‘Gemma we need to go before the M25 gets too busy’ speech?” Harry says sitting up and straightening out his jumper.
“You bet, if you want us to check on that bakery of yours we need to get going” Gemma agrees, standing up off the bed and following Anne downstairs. The likelihood of the 3 of them crying when they left was pretty high but once could hope they wouldn't, especially as no one could find the tissues.
He joined them downstairs and stood in the hallway hugging both of them, a foot taller than the 2 of them meant it was easy for him to wrap both of them in his arms. Before things got too tearful, Anne shuffled them toward the door.
“Remember, you always have a bed at home, don’t forget that” her lip quivering as she spoke. He smiled and let her go
“I’m coming up in a few weeks to see you”
“I'm just saying, if you need it, it's there, I won't judge you if you need to come home sooner, just know that.” Anne turns and makes her way to the car, Gemma following silently close behind her. Harry knew if she spoke it’d just be tears so he let her be just this once.
“Love you lots!”
“Love you more mum, gem you’re alright i suppose” Laughing, he wipes the stray tears from his face and smiles as he heads back up the stairs to his front door, ready to wave them off.
Standing on the doorstep after a very tearful goodbye he watched the pair of them pile into his mum’s car ready to make the journey home. As they pulled away he stood on the doorstep watching as they drove down the street, waving until he was sure they were out of view before he headed back inside.
Harry, a 24 year old Baker from Cheshire had moved to London, he wasn't sure why London or what he wanted to achieve but this was exactly where he needed to be. And frankly, he had no reason to question his choices, to finally get over his broken heart and start living, drastic changes were required.
Shutting the door behind him as he stepped back inside, he smiled, just to himself. Letting himself be proud of what exactly he'd done.
"I've got this" he said smiling, a grin almost reaching his eyes. Knowing this time around, this city, this house could finally make him into who he had always dreamed of becoming. For the first time in an awful long time, he knew this place could make him happy.
In his new home, time passed in a blink. Once he had set up his new store and found trusted employees he often made the trip back home to see family. Unknowing slipping into a routine he truly enjoyed.
It was when he was truly settled he felt like his life was finally coming together. Sophie, one of the early morning regulars had caught his eye months ago. Days after opening the bakery she would be one of the first few customers they had each day with a regular order. An oat latte with a croissant on the side to go.
The first thing he noticed when he saw her was her hair. Never quite perfect, always falling out of the bun she tied loosely at the base of her neck. They both followed the same routine each day. A quick hello as she came in and inevitably looked at the daily bakes before settling on her usual. After a few weeks despite her checking the bakes, by the time she would be ordering, it was already ready for her at the end of the counter.
By now, they had been on more than a few dates and for the first time he had taken a weekday off preparing to spend the day with her having spent the last few weekends in each other's homes. His plan was to surprise her at the bakery and whisk her away for a lunchtime picnic and a late movie at the cinema.
Today however, was the first day she didn’t come to the bakery. Waiting longer than usual he brushed it off, something must’ve come up. Reasoning with himself he opted to work and take his mind off things. Dropping her a text later in the day to make sure she was okay.
This was his new routine, she hadn’t stopped by for months at this stage. He’d be lying to himself if he didn’t wonder what had changed but he knew this was far from healthy.
Eventually he had to let go. Until he found out why she left.