Free Fragile by M. Leighton

room when a deep voice interrupted them.
    “Who’s your friend, Hardy?”
    Hardy’s head snapped up to meet his father’s curious eyes.
    “Um,” Hardy began, clearing his throat.  “Dad this is Miracle St. James.  She’s new at school.  Miracle, this is my father, Wayne Bradford.”
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Miracle said politely, extending her hand.
    Wayne gripped it politely and smiled. 
    “Nice to meet you, too, Miracle.”  Turning toward his son, Wayne Bradford asked pointedly, “Where’s Cheyenne?”
    Hardy’s eyes flickered to Miracle uncomfortably before he gave his stilted answer.  “We broke up.”
    A thunderous expression rolled into place over Wayne’s features.  “When did this happen?”
    “Last night.”
    “Why did this happen?  How could you let it happen, Hardy?”
    Hardy felt his cheeks sting in embarrassment. He’d known his father’s reaction wouldn’t be pleasant; he’d just never thought he’d have to weather it in front of Miracle.  His back straightened and his spine steeled a bit more with the knowledge that she was observing the scene.
    “I didn’t let it happen¸ Dad.  I made it happen.”
    “ What?”
    “She’s a horrible person and I couldn’t stomach dating her for one more day.”
    “Hardy, it’s about more than losing your cool after a fight or finding someone else that temporarily strikes your fancy,” Wayne said, glancing quickly at Miracle and back.  “She was part of your future.  She was good for you, good for your career.”
    “I’m not gonna date someone because they’re good for my career, Dad.”
    “Well, you’d better think long and hard about that, son, because your entire future is riding on how you play this season.  And you know as well as I do that Cheyenne was a big part of that.”
    With a curt nod to Miracle, Wayne Bradford stormed off.
    Hardy watched the door for a long time after his father disappeared before he found the courage to meet Miracle’s eyes.  When he did, he didn’t see anger or hurt feelings; he saw pity.
    “Sorry about that.  My dad’s a little…um…fanatical about football.”
    “It’s fine.  Don’t worry about it. He obviously just wants what’s best for you.”
    Hardy looked at Miracle, shaking his head.  “How do you do that?”
    “Do what?”
    “Manage to see the good in people.  Even the ones who don’t deserve it.”
    Miracle shrugged.  “I don’t know.  I guess because I look for it.”  After a short pause, Miracle cocked her head to one side and considered Hardy.  “I take it you don’t see much good in him.”
    A bitter bark of laughter escaped before Hardy could stop it.  “No, not too much.”
    “What is it that you see?”
    Hardy met Miracle’s hypnotic eyes and, before he knew it, he was spilling his guts.
    “I see a man who didn’t get to live his dream and feels like he had to settle in life. I see a man who is determined to see his son live that dream, whether it’s his dream or not.  I see a man who will put aside the desires of everyone in his life if he thinks he knows what’s best.  I see a man who won’t stop until he gets what he wants, no matter who it hurts.”
    When the bitter acid spewing from Hardy’s lips had come to an end, he sat back in his chair, stunned that he’d voiced so many of his private thoughts to a veritable stranger. 
    Miracle was still watching him, less with pity now and more with a quiet understanding.  It felt to Hardy as though the doors of his soul had opened up to her, without his permission, letting her see everything that made him hate who he was, what he came from.  He held his breath as he waited for the judgment to come. 
    But it didn’t.  In her eyes, he saw only acceptance.  And it was like a soothing balm to a life full of superficial people who wanted nothing more than to take from him—take and take and take. 
    Not Miracle, though.  Looking at her, Hardy knew she wasn’t a taker.