elizadurhamâ:
things had started to get better when she put distance between herself and everyone else. eliza only spoke with oliver for the most part, and the chatter around town about henryâs death had died down a bit. people would stare at her and talk, but it wasnât terrible if she distracted herself. however, that night was different. eliza had to make a quick stop to a corner store to buy some toiletries later on one night when she noticed henryâs brother from the corner of her eye⊠it started off with him staring, and then he began trailing after her. then the heckling began and the one sided arguing. her pace quickened, but she didnât want to lead him to her home in case something happened. âye killed him, i know yâfuckinâ did-â he spat, eliza shuttering back and trying to go on her way. âi knew he shouldnât have gotten involved with some penniless rat, and now look. dead. âcause of you-â the man emphasized, elizaâs pulse already racing as she tried to avoid eye contact. he had cornered her against a wall - - face getting closer and closer to hers as he kept berating her with accusations.Â
oliver had been following eliza, watching over her, he told himself, though he had felt a little guilty for itâuntil now. clearly he had been doing the right thing; god only knew what would happen to eliza without his guardianship. her good-for-nothing father had cast her out, and she needed him. the second oliver spotted henryâs brother, who he immediately recgnized, he quickened his pace just slightly so he could keep them both in his line of vision. as the man cornered her against a wall, oliver emerged from the shadows and seized him around the throat, dragging him back and throwing him bodily into the street. luckily for mr. laurence, there were no carriages in this neighborhood at this time of night, or he surely would have been run over and crushed to a pulp. the man swore, groaning, but got up and stumbled away, his steps belying his drunkenness. clearly he and henry had had much in common. âare you alright?â oliver asked earnestly, his gaze moving over eliza to make sure she wasnât hurt.












