How to Save a Life

Chapter 21

327 days before Louis was to die, he and Harry flew to Greece. They spent two weeks there, exploring the beautiful architecture and towns full of beautiful people and eating the most delicious food they had ever had.

They stayed at a beautiful villa payed for by Anne, right along the white sandy beaches, with a perfect view of the crystal clear water. High windows that filtered golden rays into the white rooms and marble floors. Giant patio doors led down to the beach and filtered sea air into the rooms at all times.

They spent hours laying in the sun, chasing each other into the cold water with stomachs that hurt from laughing so hard and permanent smiles on their faces.

There, they could escape the monster that was looming at home, the monster that in less than a year would take Louis away.

There, in the gorgeous nature and night air of Greece with the sound of waves crashing in the background and moonlight shining in on them, Harry and Louis took the beautiful step and made love. It was slow and sweet and gentle, a slow rhythm that mixed with Harry's whispers of affirmation. He told Louis just how pretty he was, how much he loved him and how the world was nothing but them. It was just those two that existed in that moment. Nothing separating them, skin pressed to skin, almost glowing with their love.

Dread filled Harry at the sight of tears sliding down Louis cheeks as he pulled out. Hoping against hope that it wasn't too soon, that the boy wasn't replaying the dreadful day so many years ago. But he pulled Harry close, thanking him for everything, thanking him for being so good, so gentle and kind to him.

They were ethereal in that moment. The world was theirs.

289 days before Louis was to die, they slow danced in the kitchen.

It was 3 in the morning, both unable to sleep, fidgeting against each other in Harry's bed, until they got so frustrated that they slipped downstairs to search the fridge for food they didn't want. Harry had grabbed one of Louis' hips, pulling the younger boy against his chest, and they melted together naturally as if they had danced more than one time.

They spun around slowly, Harry humming a tune into Louis ear, tickling his ear lobe and causing him to giggle until he couldn't breathe.

They danced for what felt like forever, marveling in the way that they so naturally and perfectly fit together and swayed like they had danced for 50 years.

258 days before Louis was to die, they went to do goat yoga.

It was absolutely the dumbest thing in the world, but after Louis had seen it in an ad on youtube they just had to go let smelly goats climb onto their backs while they did the downward dog for forty minutes.

It was worth it though, Harry decided, seeing the delighted smile on Louis' face as the blue eyed boy abandoned the pose and just let the goat rest in his lap.

213 days before Louis was to die, Harry painted his loves nails blue.

He did careful even strokes across Louis' nails in a pale bright blue that looked like his eyes in the sunlight.

Louis had told him the night before that he always liked painting his nails but whenever he had his father had given him a belt to the face until he realized it wasn't worth it anymore.

Harry painted his nails with almost perfection, blew on them to dry and kissed each knuckle on Louis' hand until he was giggling and looping his arm around Harry's neck to draw him in for a kiss.

202 days before Louis was to die, Harry sang to him at midnight. They were both awake long into the night, curled up facing eachother, whispering and making funny faces to make the other giggle.