The Plague

3

He grabbed the car keys on our way out. Niall lived across the city so it took us thirty minutes to get to his place.

We hurried into his apartment building. We had a spare key to his place. When we reached his door we heard music. The Winner Takes It All by ABBA. Niall loved that song but why would he blast it this late? At least he was awake but why didn't he answer his phone?

Louis banged on the door. We waited but no one opened it. I glanced at Louis who put the key in and unlocked it. We poked our heads inside.
"Niall? It's Harry and Louis. We just wanna check in on you." Louis shouted.

Niall didn't answer so we stepped inside and closed the door behind us. We reached the living room and a hand flew up to my mouth.
"No, no, no." I whimpered.

Louis ran up to the body hanging from the ceiling.
"Harry, help me!"

We managed to get him down. I started CPR while Louis called for an ambulance. I tried to breathe air into his lungs and get his heart started but Niall's lifeless body didn't respond. I don't know how long I kept trying but suddenly the paramedics were there and as they took over I threw myself in Louus' arms and started to sob. He was squeezing a piece of paper in his hand.
"What's that?" I asked.

"His letter." Louis replied.

He gave it to me. It was short. I read it while tears clouded my eyesight.

Dear friends,
I caught the virus and instead of fading away alone in a hospital, I decide over my own death.

It has been a marvelous life!
Please tell my family that I love them and stay strong, darlings. Live life to the fullest but protect yourselves.

Love, Niall

"Oh, Niall." I sobbed.

We stood there watching the paramedics carry his body away. I looked around Niall's apartment when they were gone. He had loved this place. His safe haven. Every square foot of this apartment was permeated by Niall and his odd taste.

We called Liam and Zayn before we left the apartment. They were devastated by the news. Then we went home and just held each other for the rest of the night, crying over the loss of a very dear friend.

We didn't even get a funeral. Nisll's family had him cremated and the ashes were sent to Ireland where Niall came from. We threw him a party at our place.

A lot of people showed up. Niall had been loved. I think Niall would have loved his unorthodox funeral. Everyone shared their best memory of him and no one had to lie about his death. No prostate cancer this time.

Zayn was lower than usual. He just sat in a corner drinking until he was wasted. I took a seat next to him.
"How are you holding up?"

"Not good." Zayn muttered but then he started to laugh.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"The irony of life. I've had sex with Niall, did you know that?" Zayn replied.

"No, I didn't know that." I answer.

"Yeah, I guess I have to find out if he gave me a departure gift." Zayn snorted and stopped laughing.

My heart fell.
"Did you use protection?"

"Nope. We were drunk and never worried about it because neither of us can get pregnant and STDs can be treated. Or so we thought." Zayn said. His voice was trembling.

"It doesn't mean you have it." I try to comfort him.

Zayn shrugged and emptied his beer bottle.
"We worried about messing up our friendship over a drunken one-night stand. Dying a painful death never crossed our minds and now he's gone. Just like that. I might be next but I can't choose the same way. Not if I want to go to heaven. So I'm gonna die in unimaginable pain, alone, in a hospital."

"First of all, you don't even know if you have it yet. Secondly, you won't be alone. I will be there. That's a promise. If it ever comes to that, I will be there." I answered emotionally.

"Thanks." Zayn smiled.