Breathing For This (Sequel To Trembling Hands)

Chapter Forty

A/N: Hello, lovelies! I figured I'd surprise you all with another chapter, since I've been really inspired lately :) . Hopefully I'll be able to write much more often towards the end of May (aka when finals are done and I can breathe again). Anyway, I love you all and I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! :) <3

Chapter Forty

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~Brielle's POV~

The days were blurred by an endless cycle of treatments, illness, and boredom; it almost felt like I was living the same three days on repeat — except on those rare occasions I would get a visitor other than my doctor (usually either my dad or one of the boy's girlfriends). I couldn't remember the last time I even left our apartment...

Soon the days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months, and with each passing second I grew more restless, frustrated, and unbearably guilty.

"Alright, enough of this," I exclaimed, finally putting my foot down, "we've been sitting on this couch for 6 hours straight now, and I just can't take it anymore"

"Do you want to take a walk or something?" Liam asked, pulling his eyes up from the book he was reading

"No! No, I do not want to take a walk! That's not what I meant!" I grumbled, standing up off the couch and letting my blanket slide down to the floor, "you guys are musicians, performers, and adored across the world! Not home health aides, not baby sisters, and most certainly not lazy asses! This has to stop!"

"Are you really getting back on to that topic again?" Zayn sighed, "I thought we've been over this, we're not leaving you"

"Good, because I'm coming with you and I'm not taking no for an answer," I said, crossing my arms.

"Brielle, love, I don't think you're quite ready for that yet," Harry said gently, putting his arm around me comfortingly.

I shook it off with a bit too much force and stomped my foot like a pissed off hormonal teenager, "I'm not compromising on this one."

"That's not how it works, love" Louis laughed

"It is now" I asserted, trying to make myself appear stronger than I actually felt.  

Niall noticed my agitation and helped me sit back down on the couch and grabbed the blanket off the floor, wrapping it around my shoulders once more; "I know you're getting annoyed with all of this, but can't we at least discuss it first?" he asked

I tried tossing the blanket off of me again, but Louis was not having it and wrapped me up tighter than a burrito. With a sigh, I gave up and sat there like a pouty child in time out.

"You only just had a treatment this morning," Louis began, "we can talk about this when you're feeling better."

"But we don't know if I'm ever going to feel better!" I reminded them, "I could literally be wasting the rest of my life siting on this couch watching the people I love give up everything to take care of me — I'm not okay with that"

"You're not going to die, so knock it off" Niall scolded, "please just stop focusing on us and start focusing on getting better"

"I'm sick of having this argument" I said, "I know you guys care about me, but believe it or not, I feel the same about you, if not more strongly. Please, just let me do what I feel is right for once"

"I promise you that you do not feel more strongly for us than we do for you," Zayn said, "We're-"

"Fine," Liam agreed, interrupting Zayn.