31 Days.. (a zayn malik fanfiction)

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

1 YEAR LATER……

*** Zayn’s POV ***

Imagine every moment you’ve experienced real happiness. And I don’t mean the kind of happiness you feel when you look out the window to find a beautiful sunny day, or the kind of happiness you feel when you get the last donut at a cafe. I mean real happiness. Happiness that fills every part of your body, evolving yourself into a person you wish you were more often. Happiness that isn’t temporary, but what you’ll hold in your heart and memory forever.

Now imagine losing all of that. 

Imagine losing every moment that made you feel. Feel like life was worth living and that the world wasn’t such a bad place after all. A feeling that everything was now possible; gone. Then out of pure serendipity, all of that lost happiness, suddenly found it’s way back to you. 

That very moment I pulled her into my arms, our cheeks pressed together and our hearts leaping, beating hard from our chests, in that very moment, I received every happiness in my life back again. 

I never forgot that moment. There was not a day I didn’t think about it. It was one of those experiences that would define you and your life. That feeling as she crashed into my arms is far beyond words could tell. But all I knew was that there was no longer a time for as long as I live that would separate Holly and I. I vowed to myself that night she was going to be mine forever. And that vow I made sure, would never be broken.

I turned my head to my right, seeing a beautiful glow amongst her face from the rays of the sun. I smiled to myself and slipped my hand between hers, holding it comfortably as I watched a tear escape from the corner of her eye. Her free hand immediately wiped away her salty drop, eyes betraying her as there was clearly more ready to fall. She continued to stare intently in awe as her best friend exchanged her vows of truth and love to her husband to be, then suddenly let out a quick and quiet laugh turning to me, pinching my chin.

“The wedding is over there you know.” she whispered frowning, looking in the direction of the two then back at me, 

“I know,” I smirked, giving her hand a little squeeze, “I’d rather watch you though.” 

She giggled softly as she rolled her eyes, “Loser!” she insulted, failing to whisper, “Shit!” she cursed realising, covering her face with her hands and sinking a little in her seat, 

I grinned trying not to laugh, “Geez Holly keep it down, we’re at a wedding!” I scolded smugly while turning to the lady on my left, “I’m so sorry about her, she’s a real handful.” I shook my head slowly, “Turrets.” 

My side immediately felt a painful jab from small pinching fingers and I had to force myself to contain a yell. I turned back to Holly only to see her eyes piercing through my own and staring into my soul. And not the good kind of staring into my soul. Definitely not the good kind. 

“I’m sorry!” I whispered trying not to laugh at her frustration, 

She poked her tongue out at me and drew her attention back to the wed to be, returning into a peaceful state. She loved weddings. Even more so this one as it was Emily’s. I continued to stare at her not believing the beauty her face held, linking my hand with hers again. I couldn’t get enough of her and it didn’t feel right if there was a moment I couldn’t feel her touch. I didn’t believe that anyone could be as beautiful as she was, but I guess that’s how Carmello felt about Emily, how all grooms felt about their bride.

*** Holly’s POV ***

Even though my attention was fully on the couple of the day I could feel Zayn’s stare on me the whole way through. A smile finally broke from my face as I gave in and turned back to him, meeting his gaze.

In just his eyes I could clearly see everything he felt for me, so raw with love making my heart soar. I’ve learnt that if it’s not the type of love that fuels you, motivates you, makes you better; it’s not worth it. It’s not worth your time. And that there makes me wonder how my life and how I, myself, would be if I decided to turn away and not give Zayn the chance he asked for. What if I had let my doubts and insecurities because of my past convince me that he wasn’t worth the risk? What if I had said no and continued on with life not even knowing that he was the person that held everything inside of him that I needed? I didn’t want to know the answers to these ‘what if’ questions for I feared them too much, feared a life without him. I caught a glimpse of that life as the plane spiralled down in the air, gravity taking me. I will never forget the terror that consumed me, never forget the brutal thoughts I had wishing for death. If it wasn’t for that one person on the plane that put on the breathing mask and lifejacket onto me while I had passed out, that wish would have come true. And I wouldn’t be alive. 

It’s beautiful to know that there are still people out there in this lost and reckless world willing to save another of their kind even when their own life is at risk. But I never found out who my hero was. They saved my life. And I’ll never have the chance to thank them for that. It hurts me that their deed will forever be unrecognised but there’s a hidden strange beauty inside of that as that recognition most likely didn’t even cross their mind. It was just a pure act of kindness. I still wish I knew who they were though, and I’m sure Zayn would too. He’d probably plant billions of kisses on their feet. 

The pain the poor boy went through I could only imagine thinking I was the Holly that died. With a plane full of people there was a high chance that I wasn’t the only Holly on board. If he had only been more calm on the phone and realise the woman hadn’t given a last name, things would of panned out a little better. But I know that’s insanely hypocritical of me because if it was me in that situation I would of reacted the same, only ten times worse, and the woman on the phone would never forget the name Holly Hernandez and the wrath I was capable of. 

“I do.” Carmello smiled, his eyes filling up quick with tears, 

“And do you, Emily, take this man to be your lawful wedded husband?” 

Her eyes immediately reflected Carmello’s with the same love and a smile built wide across her face, “I do.”

I couldn’t help the tears now falling down my cheeks to what felt like a waterfall escaping from my eyes. I had never felt so happy for Emily and Carmello and I knew that what they had was real and irrevocable love. I was so thankful that I could even be here back at home to witness them finally tying the knot. After moving to London I hadn’t seen the two for a record time of a whole year and it took a toll on me not being able to see my best friend anymore as much as I use to. But after everything that had happened, there was nothing I wanted more than to be with Zayn and if it meant moving countries to be with him, it was a step I was willing to take. 

As for my job, I was absolutely thrilled to find that the company I worked for had headquarters in London and after a lot of hard work, my transfer with them was accepted. Zayn and I had finally met in the middle with time and the universe and everything that seemed impossible that kept us apart had surpassed, and we could finally have the only thing we only ever wanted; each other.

“Now that Carmello and Emily have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands, and the giving and receiving of rings, I announce to you that they are husband and wife.”

I felt Zayn move closer to me with his hand grip a little tighter on mine, “That’ll be us one day.” he whispered as his forehead nudged me,

I gazed down at our intertwined fingers, smiling from ear to ear and a warm heart for I knew of nothing no certain than what I felt for Zayn was true. I stared at the tattoo I got for him peaking from the band, not believing where time had brought us. The small diamonds wrapped around me sparkled in the sun’s light and I smiled to myself knowing that those 31 days I spent with him that were the basis of how this love began, were no longer the only cherished memory in our lives together, for we had years and years ahead of us now.

I leaned in and let our lips meet, feeling the same spark that we could only create since the first time we locked into a kiss. I was going to be his forever.

“You may now kiss the bride.”