Let Yourself Fall (Liam Payne)

Chapter 22 ~ Liam

Chapter 22 ~ Liam

When I wake up I feel a bit better, but fatigue still owns my body. I feel like I ran a marathon and now I can barely move. For a few seconds the bliss of ignorance embraces me until I take notice of my surroundings and I remember all what happened last night. All the events come running to my mind and I groan, which makes people around me rise and approach.

I know I have a lot of explanation to receive and give. I never told Darcy about my kidney condition, and truth be told, I honestly believed that I had got better and that I had nothing else to worry about. Guess I was wrong and now that mistake is biting my arse up.

I look to my right and the first person I see is my mum, her teary eyes focused on me with all the worry in the world. She hurries to reach my hand and gives me a gentle squeeze. “How’re you feeling, baby?” She asks with a sweet and concerned tone. “Do you need anything?”

“I’m better, Mum. I’m glad you’re here, but it wasn’t necessary. I’m okay,” I tell her and try to sound convincing, but my voice is still raspy and low, tired.

“Of course it was necessary, Liam! You’re in the hospital, for heaven’s sake. You need me here,” she protests, stubborn as she is. “I grant you many things, but not this one. When your health is in risk, you’ll have to bear with me.”

“You know that’s not what I mean, Mum. I just don’t want you to worry,” I insist, looking in her eyes hoping she can understand what I mean.

She chuckles humourlessly. “Baby, I’m your mother, my job is to worry so now stop trying to tell me what to do.”

I sigh resigned that there’s no way to make her understand that it’s not the big deal, that I’m okay and I’ll be out sooner than she can say my full name. I look over my mum’s shoulder and I see her, still here but watching me from afar, her arms crossed protectively over her belly and there’s a shadow crossing her expression. I immediately know there’s something wrong and all my muscles tense in response.

“Darcy,” I call her softly and she blinks, like she’s just waking up from a dream. Without taking a step closer, she only smiles at me.

Mum turns to around and eyes at her, an understanding look crossing between them and I know Mum knows what is happening with Darcy. “I’ll go for the doctor so he can explain better to you what’s wrong. I’ll be right back,” Mum says squeezing my hand one more time before stepping away and leaving the room, not before giving Darcy an encouraging smile.

“Darcy, what’s wrong?” I ask but she’s still at the other end of the room, as far away from me as possible. But I need her here with me, I need her to look me in the eyes the way she uses to, not like she can’t trust me anymore. My heart feels heavier with every new beat and she doesn’t approach. “Babe, please, tell me what’s wrong,” I beg extending my hand towards her.

Darcy looks a way for a second and seems to shiver before her eyes are on me again and takes a step closer. “You didn’t tell me,” she whispers and I only furrow my brow, trying to know exactly what she means. “You didn’t tell me about your kidney and all what you had to go through as a kid. That’s something important, Liam, no matter if your kidney is working again, that’s something you should’ve told me.”

I bite my lower lip, finally understanding why she is looking at me that way, like I just betrayed her somehow. I want to reach her hand and explain things to her, but she’s not close enough.

“I bet all your fans know about this but you didn’t tell me. I never let Lizzie know more about you all, only the official stuff so I never found out about this and I can’ believe you didn’t tell me. What did you expect from all this? You though I was never going to know?” She’s raising her voice and I know I made a mistake, that I should’ve told her.