Prologue: Rainy Day

Grey skies overlooked Swindon.

The drain pipes clattered as water rushed and splashed over the black rusty lids of bins. Gutters were flooded and several stray cats patrolled the wet concrete and slippery fences of the neighborhood. A dog walker passed by, a hood on and his eye glistened from the reflection of the many puddles on the pavement. They walker looked above the sky, sighing in almost an exasperated tone.

Maybe that was why he was observant all of a sudden. He stood opposite of the road, stepping out of the bus and watched the walker pause and then walk along with his Labrador again. Usually he never noticed the little things, but ever since...

He shook his head and wanted to grin. But Ross Hornby's smile never lifted to his eyes.

The location his friend gave him was only a bus ride from the town center. He took the first train from Bristol and arrived just at Ten. He was expected to be met at eleven. So he used the half hour by walking down the familiar town he had once lived. The same high streets and remembering his route to the nearby school he'd gone to as a child were giving him a sense of warmth although the coldness of his body.

Ross crossed the street and carried on sauntering down the quiet neighborhood until he stood behind the white fence of the address. It was a modern house, with white walls and a grey roof which reminded him of the more bustling city he now was used to. But he was fine with the peace. Ross had the time to actually think for once. With another sigh, he opened the gate and walked up the path towards the door. The door bell rang soon as he hit his numb fingers onto the button, receiving a buzzing sound until a figure opened their door.

He looked up and saw a woman, dark features and a kind greeting smile on her face. It wasn't a fake one nor one that would creep him out. It was genuine, but nothing quite the typical stranger to stranger meetings he'd seen.

"Ah, you must be Ross Hornby." The kind woman smiled and stepped to the side as he entered her house. He did pause and wipe his shoes as she added: "I can see why you're early..."

He watched her peek her head outside and held her hand out to sense the droplets of rain. She came back inside and sighed at him. "Rainy day indeed. I apologize for it; it's always like this."

"Oh, uh: I know." Ross awkwardly said, and he followed her down to where she exited the hallway. As they entered the living room, he thanked her and placed his soaked jacket on the drying rack. "I live here...I mean I used to live here - as a child."

The woman turned around and nodded. "Oh I see," She responded. "But please: have a seat. Right there, of course."

The woman - or so called Helen - helped him settle down into the warmth of her house by giving him a cup of tea and some biscuits. The tray was placed on the glass coffee table in front of them. He could see her carry a notepad and a pen, until Helen sat down on the opposite armchair and placed it by the small table beside her. Ross, however, just couldn't bring his heart to speak - and stared directly anywhere else but her.

Helen kept quiet though, and he managed to see through the double glass doors and spotted her garden. It was a little grey but yet beautiful. Despite the cold weather, it still bloomed of succulents and ferns. Unlike his own heart...

"So..." He was cut from his trance when Helen began to speak. So politely, he listened. "It was your friend that advice you to come here in this very present?"

Ross coughed and replied, "Uh yes. Christelle Whites: she's a colleague with Stephanie. She told me about you and how...apparently: you're very good at your job."

"But it's never about us, Ross." Helen softly spoke, her eyes staring back. "It's about cooperating. Opening up but not in the sense of being judged. I am a listener and an adviser."

Ross answered back, "I know..." He shut his eyes. "But I don't know if I can open up to someone I haven't even met."

Sighing, Helen sat up and perched her hand on her chin. He knew that the woman was thinking carefully of this situation. And it was true: this was tense. "Many first comers are like this, Ross. You think I'm going to mock you of the situation you were put through, but really: we are just here as a conscience. Yours to be exact."

"So like I'm talking to myself," Ross huffed out with a blink and he watched Helen nod.

"Perhaps," She hummed. "But not really a conscience. More like a stranger. We don't oblige to the context and the details of the situation: just the feelings and the emotions of our clients."

Ross took a breath, and he looked upon his shaking hand as he spoke: "Then tell...why is this already hard to say."

"Ross," Helen quietly stole his attention from his hand and into her face. "You asked your friend to write to me what had happened. But there are some things were not given. I believe it's better if you tell me instead."

His breath shook, and erratically changed. Ross' throat tightened, almost choked from the thoughts that scrambled up the surface and opened the wounds in his head. They were too raw; the time was too short to open them. But if Ross would never open them, it was easy for others to break his fragile heart easily after a couple of years. Memories will resurface, and demons will definitely walk among his roads - if he did not open himself to his therapist.

"I..." He let out, pushing himself. He ruffled his dark brown hair and tried to wipe away the tears from his eyes - blue and yet dulling from the lack of happiness in them. "She..."

"You're a very good man for doing this, Ross." Helen encouraged him.

Ross finally let it out, taking one last breath. "She...she died. Harriet Kingston...Harriet Kingston: she killed herself because of me."

____

A/N: Here is a sequel to 'The Editor Trilogy' which carries straight after Seredipity. NOTE: YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ THE EDITOR FOR THE STORY TO MAKE SENSE. 

It will contain extra information, other original characters from previous stories and the thought of suicide. So be warned, but it's the last story of the series (depending on chronological order).

But nevertheless, hoped you guys enjoyed. :) Any thoughts?

-SierraOwls