Love is a universal word. An over and underused word. If you were asked how to define love, what would you say?

Harry would say love is an action. Among the list of basic human necessities, under oxygen, water, food, shelter and safety, was love. The only way to love is to show love through actions and sweet words drenched with compassion—it was beyond cruel to hide love, to force it under submission in the darkness. An utterly bizarre concept was that love was easy.

Love was not easy. Love was complex and had more twists and turns than a maze. Harry learned just how complicated something as basic and simple love was.

Love was compassion, love was humanity, love was the rays of the sunshine formed into a word, love was a blessing and a curse. Love was dreadful when not free, love was heartbreaking when it ended, love was empty when it was abandoned. Love was actions. Love was listening to someone even though there were so many other things they could be doing. Love was noticing the little things someone did and remembering them deeply. Love was holding someone as they cried, love was wiping the tears from their eyes and peppering kisses along the heated skin of their face.

Love was an amazing thing—possibly the most beautiful thing in the world. A lovely thing.

Love came in many forms that had three components that depended on what kind of love it was. Complete love held all three: passion, intimacy and commitment.

Love was what kept Harry up at night and what woke him up in the morning. Love was letting Louis into his home, feeding him and keeping him warm. Love was letting Louis have his space and comforting him when he wept. Love was what Harry used to feel for Louis, now he didn't know what he felt. That's what love did, it attracted people, repelled others, it matured people and brought out a wave of despair for others, it made and broke people.

Love was a dangerous thing. A magnetic force with no boundaries and carried a string of vulnerability.

Love was a stupid word. A word that grew to lose its meaning and that morphed into a twisted ideal of human intimacy playing on brainwashed people trapped under another person's false devotion. Not everyone wanted love, most people hated love because all they knew from love was heartbreak. Not everyone could love, they were unable to feel such an emotion. Not everyone craved love, they were fine with their missing components of complete love, that was fine. It was hard to be an expert in a subject as broad yet specific as love. People have died from love and people have died for love. Maybe not everyone needed love, but Harry needed it and Louis needed it.

Love wasn't jealous, people were. Love didn't beg, people did. Love didn't curse—people did and they deformed it into something for others to strive for. Love wasn't unfair, people were, it wasn't unjust, people were.

Harry rolls over, staring longingly out the window. He curls tighter in his bedsheets, watching the Jasper snowfall calmly. He didn't like his feelings, they caused far too much trouble for his mind and his well-being. It was getting out of hand. He knew it was going too far the moment he realized he couldn't sleep in his bed anymore, he didn't like the aura of his room. It seemed it had got bigger and darker.

It was bound to happen. It took three days for Harry to eventually fully move into Louis' old room. He had already a pile of books on the nightstand, a couple of mugs of cold tea and coffee and his clothes littered the floor. Three days for Harry to move out of his room into a guest bedroom that had been occupied by a beautiful boy. Harry tried not to think when he noticed how cold his bedroom felt now and how he only entered it to change and gather more items to bring into Louis' room—his room, it wasn't Louis' room, not anymore.

Harry has yet to turn the letter into the police. He knew the protocols after receiving evidence, did he want to go through that? Did he want Louis to go through that?

He was clueless about what his next move was. He knew the Millard's were corrupted people who valued money and reputation over anything but he didn't want Jasper's force digging their nose into the complicated situation at hand. Surely, Harry is aware of the police's actions, he was with them but he also knows of how easy it is to bribe a police officer in a tiny town like Jasper with little to no economic growth per year.

Harry was determined to give Louis the justice he deserved, but he had to do it alone. He was the only one who knew the inside of Louis' mind, he knew police protocol like the back of his hand, and he was aware of how dangerous it was going to be. If anything, Harry had to keep everything under wraps to keep the Millard's in the dark about his intentions.

It was scary to think of solving a case by himself with no backup or high tech systems. Though, something scarier would be leaving the fate of Louis in the hands of dirty cops. He would know, he was one after all—Harry never accepted bribes and was offered plenty of times, it was an unspoken rule to not tell the Chief about any suspicions on bribery within the force.

Harry was balancing on a tightrope trying to get to Louis at the end and trying to avoid the cops and the Millard's at the bottom but he was being chased by his own selfish needs, a desire for him to step back and let Jasper and the world decide what will happen to Louis. Injustice had ruled the world for far too long and it can be considered just how things were meant to be—Harry was going to change that. For the sake of Louis, himself and dare he even say, Jackson.

It's been over a week since Louis left. Harry hasn't seen him or his mother, in fact, he tries to see them. Maybe get a glimpse at Louis as he's walking outside but the weather has gotten worse, Louis didn't like the cold. It's almost the end of January and nearing Harry's birthday. He's always had parties but he didn't want one now, not when he had better things to do.

"Dr. Constantine!" Harry calls, running through the heavy snowfall. He catches up to the man just as he's leaving the therapist's office. Harry blinks through the snowflakes landing on his eyelashes. "You haven't been returning my calls."

The doctor turns to Harry, a frown etched on his wrinkled face. His skin was gloomy this evening. "Harry, I have other things to attend to at the moment."

Harry steps in the way when he makes a move to leave. "Doc, I just need you to answer some questions." Harry's been calling the office for days, always asking for Dr. Constantine but he was never available.

Dr. Constantine sighs, dusting the snow off his shoulder. "Harry-"

"Why did you take it?"

There is a long pause. "I beg your pardon?"

Harry licks his lips, looking around for any strangers but the streets are bare. "The bribe." A cold gust of wind blows past him, he shivers. "When you told me about Jackson, you were vague on purpose. He was your patient and it only makes sense that the Millard's paid you to keep quiet when this case started." Harry marvels in the bewilderment on Dr. Constantine's face. "Now, if you don't want to be reported to the police for aiding the Millards in their scheme, I need a favour."

The two men sit in Dr. Constantine's office. It's well past midnight and the soft buzz of the heater echos through the room as Harry reads through the folder in his hands.

Jackson Klein Millard
Born: May 6, 1990
Gender: Male

Monsters were created, they were raised and just innocent souls who got trapped in a cruel and tortuous jailcell. Jackson was one of those souls. Born in Ottawa and raised in Jasper under the watchful eyes of his mother, father, and the public. No one noticed it. No one saw the pain behind the boy's eyes. The rejection of his parents behind closed doors and his illness inside him.

'Appointment date: December 19, 1998
Session: 1
Patient age: 8
Diagnoses: Bipolar Disorder
Notes: Jackson was born with bipolar disorder and has suffered under intense neglect from his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Millard did not give their son affection. Mr. and Mrs. Millard did not speak to their son for days at a time, in result, Jackson was starved: body measurements just above that of a toddler when he is 8. Burns are visible on his arms and chest, possibly self-inflicted, open to suggest physical abuse from his parents. Jackson mentions "Sandra" multiple times.
*Mr. and Mrs. Millard show distaste to Jackson's diagnoses.'

'Appointment date: April 11, 2002
Session: 14
Patient age: 11
Diagnoses: No new diagnoses.
Notes: Jackson Millard despises being left alone: signs of abandonment issues. His view on his identity changes daily, he can be confident one day and the next he will be convinced he does not exist. No physical contact is permitted, Jackson will react very forceful and slip into his paranoid state of mind. Burns have healed on Jackson's arms, his stature is still thin. Jackson grows attached quickly to strangers in the waiting room, possible protection is needed. Jackson continues to mention "Sandra" but will not disclose who "Sandra" is.

'Appointment date: January 28, 2010
Session: 47
Patient age: 19
Diagnoses: Bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder
Notes: Jackson Millard was released from police custody after being arrested for a hit and run. Jackson displays anxiety and loss of temper if the victim's name is mentioned. Jackson continues to mention "Sandra". Suspicious behaviour is visible, possible drug use involved.'

Harry reads it all, not skipping a word until it makes him nauseous. He rubs his eyes tiredly, listening to Dr. Constantine shuffle through the many boxes scattered around his office. Harry yawns into his hand, running a hand through his hair.

A wave of relief washes over Harry. It was finally in his grasp, he could see the finish line and Louis was standing at the end. He was going to save him, he was going to do what he should have done a long time ago. "This is exactly what I need," Harry murmurs lowly. "The Millards will be arrested and put on trial for their actions. They will be forced to reveal where Jackson is hiding." He holds up the folder but it's snatched from his hand and so is Louis' that was on his lap.

"I can't let you have them." Dr. Constantine packs up every folder into a box, slamming it shut. "The Millard's won't want this information getting in the wrong hands."

Harry feels it, the weight crash onto him and knock him down a cliff. He's drowning again, he's gasping for air and there is darkness consuming him. Just as fast as the relief comes, it's gone again. Harry wants to chase it but his bones feel stiff.

"So you'd rather have injustice?" Harry asks, affronted.

"This is the Millard's town." Dr. Constantine works fast, stacking up all the boxes in his closet. He shuts the door and locks it with the key. He turns and Harry scoffs at his sympathetic expression. "If I let you have these, they might as well take everything I own." He states calmly.

Harry stands, squaring his shoulders and clenching his fists. "You continue to surprise me, Doc. First, you accepted bribery and now you're picking sides. You are choosing the filthy Millards over your own morals. You might as well live in the sewers like a rat because that's what you are."

"You wouldn't understand." Dr. Constantine says. "The Millards can end me."

"If they get to you before I do." Harry threatens, stalking closer.

"You would kill me, Harry?" Dr. Constantine's voice deepens. "You would go against your morals, just like I did."

"Don't compare me to you, Doc." Harry feels his nails dig into his palms. The anger surges through his veins, he is so close to slamming his fist into Dr. Constantine's face. "I don't care for your bullshit." The man before him was just a pawn in the Millards game, and Harry was out of moves. Dr. Constantine knew this, and he swiftly moves to the door, beckoning Harry out.

"Be happy I even let you read them." The doctor was so calm, so plain that it made Harry want to scream. "Please leave, Harry. I have to get home."

"That's it?" Harry is getting aggressive now. "I'm not leaving without those files."

"Then, I will be forced to call the police and have you escorted out in handcuffs."

"Would they take me in when I tell them all about your agreement with the Millards?" Harry gulps.

"You and I both know the cops in Jasper are smart enough to stray clear of the wrath of the Millards." Dr. Constantine sounds bored. "You may tell them, but I can guarantee that they will not listen."

"Give me the files, Constantine." Harry spits through his teeth. Dr. Constantine's face goes blank when Harry steps closer, the fury building behind his green eyes and the apples of his cheeks tinting red. "If you don't let me have those files, you are just as awful as the Millards."

NOTE: hope you all enjoyed this chapter. thank you for reading. thoughts ?