Thinking about that scene where Alex asks Nora if Percy has heard from Henry and she says, "Percy said that Henry sometimes goes into his cocoon phases and the only thing to do is just wait it out." and Alex immediately replies with, "I can't wait it out, I'm going crazy here."
It made me think of just how many times Henry went into his "cocoon phases" and the people around him just "waited it out" until his sadness passed and he felt like himself again to let them in.
Was Alex the first person to just barge into Henry's cocoon? Was Alex the first person who couldn't just let Henry ride out his sad days by himself? Was Alex the first person who demanded to have Henry share his burdens with him? Was Alex the first person who has ever GOT him?
As someone who goes into frequent depressive episodes and shuts everyone out, this hits too close to home.
Sometimes, I think about every detail of this 39 seconds for 39 minutes. And then watch it and do it all over again. The way Alex sounds when he says, "Baby", the way Henry stutters out his surprise/relieved "Alex", how Henry's face goes through so many expressions from the moment he takes that phone to the moment he settles in Alex’s arms. I am so amazed at how much of their relationship was coveyed in this 39 seconds of screen time. Countless chapters of them being so strongly in love were somehow beautifully expressed in these short moments. I love them. I love Red, White & Royal Blue and I feel like I can never get enough of it. I will always feel more each time I read or watch it. I will notice things differently and deeper. I'm so glad that Henry and Alex had someone to open their arms and run to, that of all the people on the planet, they got to meet and be the love of one another’s lives.
Sometimes I'm amazed that this exists. And grateful Matthew waited until he found the right Alex in Taylor, for Nick's Henry, because I cannot imagine we would have anything close to this without them.