stronger ↣ ziam

六

It was unusual for Liam to have trouble sleeping. He was always the first to fall asleep, and once he was asleep it was practically impossible to wake him up. There had only ever been one exception to his sleeping habits, and that was right after Isaac's death.

Both he and Niall took Isaac's death hard, but it hit Liam much harder. He hadn't just lost his mentor, he'd lost the only man he'd ever looked up to as a father figure. Liam just didn't know how to cope with the loss, and nobody seemed to be able to help him.

For days after Isaac's funeral, Liam avoided the practice hall. He couldn't even go near the street it was on without feeling like his chest was caving in. Niall didn't pressure him, and Liam took some comfort in the fact that he and Niall could share the burden of sorrow together.

But then Liam stopped being able to fall asleep. He'd lie awake at night, tossing and turning and willing himself to sleep, but he couldn't. Hours were spent lying on his back and staring at the ceiling in the dark, because even though Liam couldn't sleep he didn't want to get out of bed.

After a week of restless nights, Liam finally told Niall. He also told him that he hadn't so much as picked up his mitts since Isaac died, and Niall nearly had a fit.

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Didn't see how it mattered," Liam mumbled.

"Of course it matters, Liam." Niall sighed, pulling Liam into a tight hug.

"W-We can't- I can't do this without him," Liam sobbed into Niall's shoulder, suddenly breaking down in his arms.

"Shh, Liam." Niall held him tightly as Liam's body shook. "You can, and you will."

"What if I don't want to?" he whispered, almost too softly for Niall to hear.But Niall did. Niall suddenly pushed Liam back, holding him at an arm's length so he could look Liam in the eyes. He surveyed the look on his face, tear-stained cheeks and eyes so wrecked with tiredness that Niall nearly started to cry himself.

"C'mon," Niall said as he started to pull Liam towards his living room. He didn't let go of Liam until they were both standing in front of the heavy bag hanging from the ceiling, and Niall was forcing Liam's mitts onto his hands.

"Niall, what-"

"You need this." He planted himself firmly behind the bag and started egging him on. "C'mon. Hit."

"Niall, I-"

"Liam," Niall said forcefully. "Hit the bloody bag."

Liam took a deep breath, half wanting to throw his mitts in Niall's face and storm off, but he didn't. He swung at the bag, not letting Niall's mild wince get to him as a surge of energy rushed through his body. He swung again, finding that he missed the slight pain that rippled through his fist when it connected with the bag. Liam kept swinging, and Niall held the bag in place as he cheered him on.

"Thanks," Liam said when his arms ached too much to even lift them, let alone keep swinging. Niall smiled as he helped Liam remove his mitts.

"Any time. We'll get through this, you and I." Liam smiled and nodded.

-//-//-//-//-
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I'm going to try my best to update this book ! I made an new book it's about Liam but I'm not sure when to publish the book. :,(