Therapy (Larry Stylinson)

Chapter 7 -Save me

Louis has been driving around for what seemed like way too long. He’s checked every street, every corner and every narrow path. He couldn’t have gone that far.

He was about to call Harry’s mother when he reached a stop to check if he was home, but he saw his car parked in an alley on his right and thanked God for making him look that way. He took a turn and parked right behind him before getting out of his car.

When he approached the passenger seat, he could see Harry collapsed on the wheel, holding it tight. He opened the door and sat beside him without saying anything.

‘Get out.’ Harry said with a monotone voice that frightened Louis.

‘Harry, I want to help you. You need to understand how much I care about you.’

‘And you need to get out.’ Harry said as he straightened his back, exposing his arms, red. He had been scratching them so hard it was starting to bleed. Louis hadn’t found him in time. He had already started hurting himself again for a reason Louis couldn’t understand.

‘Oh my god. Harry.’ Louis whispered as he took Harry’s cheek in his hand, wiping a teardrop with his thumb. He was glad when the boy didn’t push him away this time. He was leaning in instead, sniffing as he closed his eyes.

‘I’m sorry.’ Harry murmured and Louis shifted from his seat to get closer to Harry, thankful his car didn’t have a separation between the two seats. He took him in his arms and Harry nuzzled his head in his neck. He let him sob a bit before taking his hand and intertwining their fingers. When Harry calmed down, Louis took his arm and brought it closer to his face. He analysed the scars and ran a finger over it, watched carefully by Harry. He rested his lips against Harry’s cheek before bringing them to his arm, kissing every single wound on it.

Harry was watching in awe as Louis covered his mistakes with kisses before sitting back up and looking straight into his eyes.

‘I don’t mind them. But this is your past. Let’s keep it that way.’ Louis said as he wrapped his arm around Harry’s shoulder to make him rest on side. He took his hand again and rubbed the back of it with his thumb in circles, making Harry close his eyes to enjoy the gentle touch.

They stayed like that for a while. Not talking, not moving, just intertwined as the night fell. Louis didn’t even care if he had other appointments that day. He didn’t care if Perrie had to face dozens of angry patients. All he cared about right now was showing Harry how much he cared for him and how he accepted him no matter what, because he liked him, everything about him, even the parts he had yet to learn about.

‘He knew.’ Harry suddenly said. Louis had no idea what he was saying but figured he’d just let him speak. ‘A few weeks before he passed away, he saw my arm. I hadn’t noticed it was this obvious. After a while, you sort of forget it’s there. I saw him widen his eyes and mouth something to my mom who was sitting next to him. Later that day, I overheard them talking. He was saying how I was doing this to myself, how crazy it was, how they had to talk to me about it.’ Harry explained as Louis played with his hair, head resting on the boy’s. ‘He sounded so afraid and eager to help me, scared for me. It sort of made me smile because it showed just how much he loved me. But my mom didn’t say anything. She just sat there, nodding without the slightest interest. It was like she didn’t give a fuck about how much I was hurting. She said I was just weird and there was nothing to do about it.’