Don't Let It Break Your Heart

9: Harry's Birthday Celebration

It seemed longer than a year ago, but that's how long it had been. Harry had the time of his life last year and lived as if he had his whole life ahead of him. Sorrow built in Louis's lungs and he found it a bit more difficult to think back to that day because nothing was the same.

Harry was in a coma, of course, but he also had cancer. Last year he was partying with his best mates, having cake and a cuppa tea, and later on, everyone passed presents around.
Zayn was the first to fork over a gift from the huge stack. He could see the way Harry had a different glow about himself, especially on his birthday. His glow had a whole new meaning when it was his day, and he just adored the attention and being showered with love and happiness.

As he took the present from his hand, he lightly shook it and rolled his eyes,

"It's the remake of Love Actually, isn't it?" He was obviously prideful when he says it, even though he did know. Harry slowly opened it, and his eyes brimmed in happy tears, what was it, one would probably wonder.

"It's not Love actually, H." He says turning to Louis now, and watching how his face flushed a deep red, tears in his eyes as well. "It's memories of when you both played footie before your asthma got bad, you know?" He smiled, watching as Harry slowly set it down on the table, and slowly began getting ready for the next present.

"Sorry it isn't much, H." Niall meekly spoke, he had made Harry a lavender anklet with emerald green beads separating each lavender space. Harry smiled and blushed only slightly.

The fact that he remembered his feminine side was making him a bit emotional, and he couldn't hide it. There was definitely a lot of emotion in the room and hiding his feelings felt almost impossible.

"C'mon Hazza, don't cry," Louis mumbled, kissing the top of his head, a few curls brushing against his cheek as he did so. "C'mon you have one more gift and then we'll eat some chips from the party pack I bought, maybe pizza later on if the guests stay."

Harry only nodded, waiting for his next present which was given to him by Liam, his childhood friend that he had known since he guessed daycare. And even still teased him about how he used to sleep with a blankie up until the age of 7. Wasn't his fault, he enjoyed the feeling of being babied. "I didn't know what to get you, Harry, you hardly tell me anything." He exhales in a laugh, "And before you open it be careful it could spill."

Harry and Louis both turned his way with a mix of glare and confusion, she had the power over them usually, giving them things as presents that had them nervous before opening it.

"Li, you know that you can't just say things like that to guys right?" Louis laughs, looking at him with a soft tone on his face. Liam only nods and waits for Harry to open it, and when he did he can't help smirks, "If you don't like Dr. Pepper I will drink it, so, keep in mind what you actually want for your birthday next time."

Next time. Louis thought, looking at Harry's more or less lifeless body. Louis was tired. Exhausted from lack of sleep, but the setting he was in along with the circumstance just made everything worse. Even if Louis had a nice walkabout down memory lane about Harry, it wasn't the same and it would probably never be the same. The doctor had come to tell the news about Harry's condition and had us keep a close eye in case he were to get better.

Louis didn't really have faith in it anymore, the conversations the doctor had with both him and Anne, well, it just seemed as if they were preparing them for what was to come. Cancer was one thing, it could be the main reason for someone's death, however, it would be even worse when the patient is in a coma. The lack of blood can cause the body to go into shock due to the lack of oxygen."

Louis heard the words, and he retained information, but just as it was acknowledged, it soon was a distant thought and his mind drifted off to the memory of Harry's birthday last year.

Of course, their friends had stayed the majority of the evening and a few others had shown up a bit later on.

Louis sighs, realizing it was hard for him to think about good memories. Positivity didn't seem to outweigh any of the negative news the doctors were handing Louis written down on paper. He wished for once he could tell them to buzz off. Seriously, couldn't he just cry in peace holding Harry's hand?

"You know Haz, something about this whole ordeal, I feel like it's happening to teach me life's... greatest lessons." Louis couldn't help but chuckle to himself, feeling a bit silly. "You taught me that, so I feel a little dumb talking about it now."

Louis tried to maintain a steady voice as he spoke, and he could hear the doctor walking from down the hall allowing him to know that he would be in to check on Harry soon.

"I wish I knew what to say Harry, but I-I really don't." Louis's voice dropped lower, and he tried to be quiet, thinking only Harry could hear what he was about to say. "I know it's my job to look after you, but the truth is I-I'm scared." Louis sounded not only broken, but he actually sounded defeated, this was going to hurt way more once Harry was gone, and he wouldn't find anyone else. Not like Harry.

Thanks for reading loves, you are incredible!