Breeze of Life Read Online Free Page A

he backed away to his own apartment and I watched him with a wary look. I had a bad feeling about what Harper had organized for today and I was tempted to run back to the apartment and lock myself inside. One look at Harper though and I knew that wasn’t going to happen. His expression was that of determination and a little bit of I-dare-you arrogance. I didn’t even bother trying to hide the frustration and sadness that simmered beneath my skin today. It was like a parasite, eating its way through my body and I wondered how long it would take before I simply crumbled into nothingness. Once in the parking garage below, Harper opened the passenger door to his very big and cozy Jeep Cherokee. I noticed his hesitation as he glanced across to the empty car space behind us.
    “Where’s your car?” He looked around.
    “Sold it.” I took a sip from my coffee and allowed the warmth to infuse some strength in my limbs.
    “Why?” he asked climbing into the driver’s seat. It was his what-the-fuck voice that I was well accustomed too.
    I shrugged. “I needed the money.” Well, now he was furious. I didn’t even need to look at him to know, I could almost feel the waves of rage seeping from his pores. “Yeah, yeah… I should have asked you for a loan, I didn’t, we know why, move on,” I grumbled before he had a chance to argue with me. He took a moment to compose himself before eventually knocking the car into drive and leaving the car park. I watched the streets and cars drift by in a daze of nonchalance. Everyday people doing everyday things that seemed impossible for me. It was as if I were already slipping away from this world that I no longer cared for. I didn’t even care enough to ask Harper where we were going, I would deal with it when we got there. I would just rest and store my energy for the fake smiles I would wear and mock enthusiasm that I would greet people with. Harper had Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit blaring from his iPod and I flinched. It was his favorite song and I haven’t heard it since he left. It reminded me of just how different Harper and I truly were. My favorite song was The Way You Look Tonight , not the original Fred Astaire version; it was a bit too swingy for me, but Tony Bennett’s version. It was soft, elegant and you could tell the person who wrote that song was in the moment, they had someone they truly loved and the words came straight from the heart. That was just one example of the expansive differences between Harper and me. My favorite movie was Grease . Yeah, Olivia Newton-John totally rocked those lycra pants. Harper’s favorite movie was Die Hard —One, Two, Three, and Four. I loved romance novels, Harper loved Penthouse magazine and not for the interesting articles he tried to tell everyone he read. I loved lazy Sundays—hanging around the house; Harper loved action packed Sundays—surfing and hanging at the local bar for an afternoon session. Harper liked fast, I liked slow, Harper like danger, I liked safe. How on earth we became friends and remained friends was beyond me.
    We had driven for what seemed like forever when Harper finally pulled into the car park of what I recognized immediately as the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane and I immediately froze. I’m sure I looked as spooked as hell when Harper turned to face me.
    “Open mind and heart, Breeze.” When I didn’t move he walked calmly to my door and opened it, taking my hand like you would of a small, terrified child and led me into the building. Harper didn’t ask for directions, he knew exactly where he was going and I followed in stunned silence.
    “Harper, good to see you again, bro!” Beamed a big burly Maori wearing what looked like a backstage pass around his neck. He had another two swing tags in his hand.
    “You too, Cody.” They shook hands and the massive kiwi set his sights on me.
    “Cody, this is Bree, Bree, I’d like you to meet Cody. He works here at the Wonder