Darling

Chapter Seven

When Harry woke up, it took him a few seconds to recognise where he was. He looked around, realising he was in his bedroom. Louis sitting next to him, a concerned look on his face. Liam and Niall were standing at the foot of the bed with the same expressions.

"Lou?" Harry mumbled, trying to keep his eyes open, not having much strength to sit up.

"Yeah?" Louis asked softly, reaching his hand out and resting it on Harry's leg in a comforting manner.

"What happened?" Harry mumbled, rubbing his eyes, trying to piece together the events. Louis gave him a sad smile.

"You had a panic attack, darling," Louis explained, his voice coming out in barely a whisper. Harry's heart sank in his chest. He couldn't believe he had one after so many years.

"Oh," Harry whispered, avoiding eye contact with his friends and Louis. Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He didn't want to believe it.

"I called your mum, H. She's downstairs," Niall piped up. Harry opened his eyes and nodded, giving him a half-smile.

"I know you're tired, darling, so I'll let you sleep. I need to get home anyway," Louis whispered, getting up and leaning over, kissing Harry on the forehead. Harry felt the butterflies in his stomach, and he smiled to himself.

"I'll talk to you later. I'm glad you're okay," Louis said quietly, pulling away. Harry nodded slightly, still trying to process the previous events.

"Bye," Harry whispered.

"Bye, darling," Louis said fondly, walking out of the room. Niall looked concerned as he sat next to Harry on the bed where Louis was sitting just moments ago.

"Do you remember what happened?" Niall asked. Harry shrugged, letting out a sigh.

"Sort of. I don't remember passing out, though," Harry mumbled, feeling embarrassed.

"Your mum thinks it was because you're exhausted. You've had a rough couple of weeks, H, we don't blame you," Liam stated, kneeling on the floor next to Harry's bed. Harry sighed again, chewing on his bottom lip.

"I can't believe Louis saw me like that. I didn't think it would happen again. I thought I grew out of them," Harry groaned, struggling to sit up against his bedhead.

"I've never seen you that bad before, H," Niall whispered, looking down, fiddling with his fingers. Harry felt guilty. He didn't mean to scare his friends; he couldn't help it.

"I'm so sorry, Niall," Harry whispered, feeling guilty.

"Harry, it's fine. It wasn't your fault. We're just glad you're okay now. Right, Liam?" Niall asked Liam, who nodded with a sympathetic look.

"Are you feeling better?" Liam asked, his voice was gentle.

"Yeah. I'm just tired, that's all," Harry said, giving them a half-smile, looking down as it suddenly hit him how exhausted he was. He was forcing himself to stay awake but didn't know how much longer he could last.

"We'll let you get some rest, okay? You need it," Liam expressed. Harry nodded, laying back down and getting comfortable.

"Talk to you later, H," Niall whispered, walking out of the room with Liam as Harry fell asleep almost instantly.

When Harry woke up, it was dark, the moonlight was shining through the cracks of his blinds. Harry sat up in his bed, reaching over for his phone that was on his bedside table.

When he turned his phone on, he saw the time displayed was just after 8 p.m. He opened and replied to the messages from Liam and Niall, who were checking in on him. Harry smiled to himself, wondering how he found such caring friends.

Harry's feet touched the cold, hardwood floor as he stretched, remembering the events from earlier that day. He sighed deeply, getting up from his bed and heading downstairs. Harry shivered as he felt the cold tiles touch the bottom of his feet.

He was halfway down the stairs when he noticed the kitchen light spilling out of the doorway and the sound of sniffs coming from the kitchen. Harry's heart stopped in his chest. He knew it was his mother trying not to cry too loudly.

"Mum?" Harry questioned, walking into the kitchen. His mum slightly jumped when she noticed Harry. She wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up from the kitchen chair, tucking it back under the counter.

"Harry, honey, how are you feeling?" She asked concern laced in her voice, walking towards Harry.

"I'm feeling better, just exhausted. Are you okay?" Harry asked. He was worried about his mother more than anything. His mum took a deep breath and sighed.

"I'll be fine. I'm just working through some things," She half smiled, placing her hand on Harry's cheek. Harry looked down at the ground, the guilty feeling coming back.

"It's all my fault. I should never have said anything." Harry looked up at the confusion on his mum's face before she realised what he was referring to.

"Harry, this is not your fault! Parents should love their children unconditionally, no matter what happens, no matter who they love. I am so, so incredibly sorry for what he put you through. No child should ever have to deal with their parent not accepting them for who they are. I am so proud of what you have achieved despite everything that's happened. I love you, Harry. I'm so proud of the young man you have become. Don't you ever forget that."

Harry's vision became blurry as the tears welled up in his eyes. He nodded, trying to keep them from falling.

"I love you too, Mum. Thank you for being both my parents," Harry whispered as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Anne mumbled, into her son's shoulder as she rubbed her hand up and down his back. Harry knew she was holding back tears too by the way her voice sounded. They embraced each other for a few minutes before Anne pulled away.

"I'm going to get some more rest, you should as well. You don't have to go to school the next couple of days if you don't want to," Anne said, and Harry nodded. Harry gave his mum one more smile before heading back up to his room to sleep.