- Cuts and Bruises - - Niall Horan -

-19-

-Niall's POV-

I wake up feeling stiff and aching. I look to my left and see a table with some apple sauce and pudding on it. I look to my right and see a red button labeled "Push for Assistance". I reach my pale hand out and press the button. I hear a buzz and someone's feet shuffling in the distance.

A man in a white doctor's coat walks in and gives me a small smile. He grabs a clipboard hanging on the wall and strolls over to a chair at the end of my bed. I wriggle my body to attempt to sit up but he holds up his hand, signaling me to not. He pushes a button and my bed raises slightly and I wince, feeling the pain in the stab wound.

"Hi, Niall," he starts, clearing his throat, "I'm Doctor Lancaster. Just call me Rob, though. I prefer my first name. I'm here to ask you a few questions about how you're feeling and your father."

I wince, my father is even more of a touchy subject now. I nod anyway, just wanting to get it over with.

"Well, it seems that you're doing great. It's only been a few hours since the incident and you're already awake," he smiles at me again, "So, on a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your pain?"

I think a moment, "Probably a 7. Maybe 7 and a half. Not too bad when I'm sitting still but when I move its awful."

He nods, writing it down. "So about you father, how long has he been diagnosed with schizophrenia?"

"Ever since he killed my mother," I say, tears welling up in my eyes, "So about 7 years ago."

He nods again, "Last question, for now. I'm going to let you rest. Have you found your soulmate?"

I blush, thinking of Kendall and her gorgeous hair and beautiful laugh.

Kendall....

What happened to her? If she felt the pain from the time father punched me, I wonder what she's feeling now.

"Uh, yes actually," I mumble, "Her name is Kendall-"

"That's what I thought," he grimaces, "Niall, Kendall is in a coma."

My jaw drops, no this can't be happening. I was the one that was actually stabbed, not her. I'm supposed to be in the coma. Kendall did nothing to deserve this.

I sit up even more now, and try to swing my legs over the bed so I can go and see her. Rob quickly jumps up and carefully pushes me back down into bed.

"Niall, you're in more of a pickle than her. You need to rest. You may visit her later, if you're good." he says, clearly feeling sorry for me.

I huff and lay back down. He pushes the button at the end of my bed again to lower it back down. I ruffle my pillow and try to rest. I find myself mumbling her name and begging someone, anyone - or anything, to wake her up.

____________

-Kendall's POV-

Blackness.

That's all I know.

Eternal nothingness.

And it's driving me mad.

Am I dead? Am I alive? Am I stuck somewhere in between?

I continue to float through the blackness until off in the distance I hear mumbling. It can't be.

"Kendall, Kendall please. Please come back. You don't deserve this! I should be in the coma..." it's Niall's voice. Am I going crazy? But wait, he said coma. So I'm still alive. I try to reach out to the voice, but my soul feels like it's been disconnected from my body. I try anyway, using all the power I have. Still nothing. Looks like I'm stuck in this coma.

___________

-Niall's POV-

Rob said I had been good, so I get to see Kendall now. I hope she looks peaceful, almost like she's sleeping.

I walk into the designated room for Kendall and gasp at the sight. She's almost as pale as me, and looks very frail.

I fall to my knees beside her bed, clutching her tiny hand. I CANG believe it. If it wasn't for my dad, she would be conscious. I may never be able to see those beautiful eyes of hers.

I hold her hand while I weep, not planning on ever letting go. I also occasionally pet her soft hair, and whisper in her ear, hoping she'll hear some of my words and wake up.

No luck.

________

I soon am released from the hospital, but Kendall is still in a coma. The doctors are starting to get more and more worried but I beg them to not pull the plug. I sob, clutching her bed, begging her to wake up. So far, it hasn't worked, but it will. I'll never lose faith.

_________

-Kendall's POV-

Constant.

That's what Niall's voice is.

I can hear him begging for me to wake up.

I've been hearing it for weeks.

I've never been able to muster enough strength to wake up, but by his occasional outbursts of joy, I have wiggled my fingers, squeezed his hand, and twitched my eye. These are probably the only things keeping the doctors from pulling the plug on me.

"C'mon, Kendall," I hear him whimper, his voice getting more and more desperate each time I hear it, "Please, give me another sign. The doctors are losing hope, but I'm not. I know you're in there."

He starts to cry. I don't act yet, saving up the energy to try and open my eyes this time.

"Kendall, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you before all of this happened..." I hear him sniffle, "We're soulmates. I was stabbed. That's why you're in a coma. It's not your fault."

Us, soulmates? I knew it. I knew he was special.

I use the excitement and joy from his statement and finally open my eyes.

________

hey guys! this is the last chapter before the epilogue!! I'll probably do a super long authors note at the very end to thank you guys properly.

so I had a dream I met Niall. it was perfect. and then I woke up crying.

so yeah.

I love you guys!!

until next time.