How to Save a Life

Chapter 19

"he smiles politely back at you"

Harry's POV

A seizure.

Louis had a seizure.

Harry was terrified once again.

Any time that something went well, anytime that Louis gained just a little bit of happiness, or won just a little in life, things turned to shit.

And now Harry was curled up in a hospital waiting room chair, accustomed to the uncomfortable wood against his back.

Louis had a seizure.

Harry should have known something was wrong.

Looking up in a dark room to see Louis' horrified eyes fixed on something behind him was horribly unnerving but he had just brushed off Louis' excuse like it was nothing.

And then Louis had fallen into his arms, crying from pain, not answering Harry's gasps and pleads of what was wrong.

And then his back had arched off the floor, head banging back into Harry's lap as his limbs shook. White foam dripped down his chin and his teeth were clamped shut and Harry was grabbing onto him desperately, trying to get him to stop.

The worst part however, was when he went completely still in Harry's arms, the thrashing ceasing immediately as Anne begged for an ambulance on the phone. His eyes were shut and his mouth was foaming white liquid and Harry was desperately crying and wiping it away.

His body was so still it was like he was dead.

A draft of cool air washed over Harrys skin and he shivered in his spot in the waiting room. The room was vacant besides Anne and Harry.

His mom sat to the right of him, her right hand pressed against her forehead, worry lines prominent. Her left hand was clasped with her sons shaking one.

Harry was staring at the white tile, wishing he and his family were anywhere but there right now. He hated it here.

Someone cleared their throat in front of him and he looked up to see Louis' first ever doctor, Drake.

Harry scrambled upwards to shake the guys hand while Anne remained sitting, stretching her hand up to meet him with a kind but tired smile.

"It seems to be that Louis had a seizure. As you probably both know by now." He said and they both nodded.

"It was seemingly pretty severe, and he's still unconscious. We took him in for a CT and an MRI as I do believe some brain damage caused this."

Harry flinched backwards at those words. Brain damage meant death, even he knew that.

"We will have the results very soon and will know by the end of tomorrow what exactly is causing this." Drake said, giving a tired but hopeful nod to both of them.

"How long till he can come home?" Harry asked, his voice shaky and small.

He wanted to go home. He wanted to take Louis home, cling to his body under the sheets in his bed and escape reality with sleep.

Drake shook his head. "I need to keep him here for at least tonight and tomorrow. Maybe even longer after we find out what's wrong with him. I'm sure whatever it is will need surgery because it's very rare to just drop and have a seizure, and not have any neurological damage."