SPACES | 𝘯. 𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘯 (book 3) ✔

For Via.

Hello! I hope you guys missed me and don't hate me too much, so in order for you not to hate me at all, here's part 1 of 3 alternate endings. I missed Emily and Niall and their dramatic lives too much, & hated the alternate ending I had originally, so here's this! Hope you like them <3

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Niall's Pov:

It's been three days. Emily hasn't woken up and her condition is the same as it was explained last time. There were a couple close calls where her breathing would stop, but then they would help, and then she'd continue to breathe. But overall, she's been fine. Still sleeping peacefully with the oxygen tube in her mouth. Her heart rate was at a normal beat.

It was around lunchtime. I had fallen asleep with my elbow on the arm of the chair and my hand holding my head. The heart monitor began to beat quicker than before, making me jerk awake and look at Emily. Her brown eyes were opened lazily as she looked around her surrounding. "Em.. Emily?" I whispered. Her eyes looked over at me, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. She motioned to the tube in her mouth, signaling that she wanted to talk. "Uh.. Right.. Hang on." I said quickly.

I got up, going out of the room, "Hey, I need a doctor? A nurse?" I called out before coming back in. Soon enough, a doctor and a couple nurses trailed behind. They checked Emily and tested her and she looked okay.

She then motioned to the tube again, making the doctor say something before he removed the tube. Emily's mouth closed, and then the nurse put the oxygen tubes that go into your nose on her. "Okay, sweetie. Take it easy. I'll get you some water." The doctor said. Emily nodded, and the doctor and nurses left, leaving me and her alone.

"What happened? Why am I here?" Emily asked frantically, her voice still hoarse.

"Calm down, Em. You're alright. You got into a car accident and got hurt." I explained softly, sitting back in my place.

"What about Olivia? Is she alright? Was she in the car?"

I shook my head, "No, she wasn't in the car with you. She's okay." Emily nods slowly, let out a breath of relief, and laid back on the bed.

"What are you doing here, Niall?" She asked. "We're supposed to be broken up."

"And we are, Emily. But, I came because even if we are, I still care about you, you know." Emily sighed and avoided eye contact.

"Niall, if something worse is to happen, promise you'll take care of Via." She whispered, swallowing.

I shook my head, "Don't talk like that, Emily. You're awake. You're going to be fine."

"You don't know that. They have to come back with the test results and then we can talk about that. But for now, just promise you'll take care of her." Emily pleaded, grabbing my hand. I swallowed, seeing my vision go blurry. I bit my lip and nodded, holding onto Emily's hand.

"I promise."

Throughout the day, Emily's blood pressure and heart rate would go up and down and it was difficult to keep her awake. She ended up going back to critical condition and it got to the point where the doctors and nurses had tried everything to keep her well. I wanted to scream at them and tell them to make her better for me and Via, but for Emily's sake, I didn't. Instead, I brought in Via so that she could see Emily. She was super happy and excited that Emily was there. And Emily only smiled weakly and held tightly onto mine and Via's hands.

And then later that night, Emily would yawn uncontrollably. She'd rub her eye like she always did and get comfortable on the pillows. "I don't think I'm gonna make it, Niall," Emily said quietly and looked at me with tears in her eyes. "I'm so tired. And I know I have to stay awake, but I can't."

I shook my head, refusing to believe her. "Emily, stop. Just another hour and then you'll be able to be put into surgery, pet. And then you'll get better and you can go home." I told her.

"Niall." She said sternly. "What if I don't make it? You have to accept the possibilities--"

"No. I won't lose you again. Especially if it's permanent." Em stayed silent as she stared at me. Her furrowed eyebrows gave me the impression that she was thinking about it. Hard. "If you won't stay for me, stay for Via. She needs her mum, Emily."

Her eyebrows relaxed, but she remained quiet as she looked over to avoid my gaze. Eventually, she looked back at me and nodded. "Okay."

I let out a breath of relief and dipped my head. "Thank God..." I whispered.

"For Via."

I looked back up. She stared at me, a hurt look mixed in with relief. I nodded. "For Via."

I straightened out the bed so that she was sitting up and readjusted the pillows so she had a little comfort. She made me read to her to keep her awake. She specifically requested "The Outsiders" by S.E Hinton, a book that she could never fall asleep to. But when I looked up at her, her eyes were closed. 

"Emily?" I called. She gave no response. "Emily!" I said again, feeling my heart start to speed up in a not comforting way. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. 

"Sorry," she mumbled. I sighed, falling back into the chair, letting my heart slow down. "You reading got me sleepy."

"Am I that boring?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Emily smiled, a lazy one that still made the side of her eyes crinkle. "No. Not that. Anything but that."

"Alright then, reading is off the table." I placed the book on the small table connected to her bed. "Talking keeps you awake."