The Quarterback (narry)

twenty*

twenty

three months later

Green eyes closed away from the world. Brown curls sprawled out across the pillow and cheek in little wisps. Pink lips pouted as if they were ready to be kissed, always. Dark eyebrows furrowed like when he would be deep in thought. Harry. My beautiful Harry.

Each morning I would wake up before Harry. I would watch him sleep, stir, and shift. I would watch him dream. And each morning, I would be in awe of the man beside me.

Harry was the strongest man I knew. He was the most beautiful man alive. Each morning, I fell more and more in love with the man asleep beside me. Each morning, as I watched him sleep, I realized how lucky I truly was. I realized how much of an honor it was to love and be loved by this man.

I never knew I could love anyone as much I loved Harry. Harry was all that mattered to me in those moments. In the silent bedroom, the light peeking out from behind the dark curtains, Harry was the only thing that mattered. It was as though the world didn't even exist, and it was just he and I and his bedroom floating in the emptiness of the universe.

But then I always had to get up and live in the world, on earth.

I wished I could just go away with Harry so it was just the two of us, maybe on an island. Harry could afford it, but he could never live it. Islands aren't exactly wheelchair accessible.

I stood up from our bed carefully, so I wouldn't wake Harry, and quietly walked down the hallway to the kitchen. Each morning I made Harry a smoothie, and he always said the same thing to me. "Thanks, babe. This flavor is my favorite." The funny thing is, I always made a different flavor. I supposed he did it to cheer me up.

For breakfast today, I made a bowl of one sliced banana with milk and sugar, scrambled eggs with cheese, and a few slices of toast. Harry and I usually shared a breakfast since I was still used to cooking for one. We were okay sharing though because I always made us snacks throughout the day.

For the past month and a half, I had been keeping myself busy. I was always distracting myself with TV, cooking, cleaning, and overall just taking care of Harry. I loved doing those things, especially for Harry, but they were also a good distraction from what was tearing me up inside.

About a month after my visit of Louis with Luke, he was released. He had gotten better quickly. He detoxed, he started eating again, and he even started smiling during our short visits. I usually went alone, but there were a few times where Harry joined me. Never Zayn, Lauren, Vanessa, or Sophia.

I haven't talked to Zayn, or almost anyone else, since our argument when I got out of his car. That was just until recent events. I was okay with that, if I'm honest. If they had truly loved and cared about me, they would have supported me. They would have been happy for me for finally being with the one person I loved. The only man I've ever fallen in love with.

Vanessa stopped sleeping around for money and got a job at another sports bar, although it pained her that it wasn't Champions. I can tell she's hurting a lot, much like the rest of us. She loved Louis so much, and she hates that she's the one that sent him spiraling down.

Champions shut down due to financial reasons, and Vanessa was already in deep enough debt. She was close to losing her home, and she had no other choice but to sleep with men for money.

When Louis was released, Harry and I picked him up. Dr. Cabello said that any of us could call her at any time if we had deeper questions into his condition. For Louis, he could call her any time if he needed to talk or had questions about the new medications he was on.