Stranded/ Larry Stylinson

Chapter 7

Harry's POV

As the night settled over the island, enveloping us in darkness, we huddled closer together around the crackling fire, seeking comfort in each other's presence. The sound of waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing backdrop to our thoughts, a reminder of the vastness of the ocean that surrounded us.

Despite our exhaustion, sleep eluded us, our minds consumed by the uncertainty of our situation. Thoughts of rescue, of home, of loved ones left behind, swirled in our heads, mingling with the flickering shadows cast by the fire.

Louis sat beside me, his gaze fixed on the flames, his expression unreadable. I could sense the turmoil raging within him, the weight of his memories pressing down on him like a heavy burden. But he remained silent, lost in his own thoughts and I didn't want to intrude.

Instead, I focused on the rhythmic sound of his breathing, the steady rise and fall of his chest as he stared into the fire. Despite everything that had happened between us, I couldn't help but feel a surge of protectiveness toward him, a desire to shield him from the pain that threatened to consume him.

"Lou," I said softly, breaking the silence that stretched between us like a taut wire. "What is on your mind?"

Louis glanced up at me, his eyes reflecting the flickering light of the fire. For a moment, he seemed lost for words, as if struggling to find the right way to express what he was feeling.

"I... I don't know, Harry," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "Everything feels so... surreal, like I'm living in a dream."

I nodded in understanding, reaching out to squeeze his hand in a silent gesture of support. "It's okay to feel that way, Lou," I reassured him. "We're all in this together. We'll get through it, I promise."

Louis offered me a small, grateful smile, his eyes shining with unshed tears. In that moment, I felt a surge of gratitude for the bond that connected us, the unbreakable thread of friendship and camaraderie that had carried us through so many trials and tribulations.

As the night stretched on, the fire dwindled to embers, casting long shadows across the sand. We took turns keeping watch, scanning the horizon for any sign of rescue, but the darkness remained unyielding, concealing our fate from view.

But even in the face of uncertainty, there was a glimmer of hope burning within us – a belief that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together, as a band, as friends, as brothers. And as I looked around at my bandmates, my friends, my family, I knew that no matter what the future held in store, we would never lose hope, never lose faith, never lose sight of the bond that united us.
———
As the night wore on, a heavy silence settled between Louis and me, broken only by the crackling of the dwindling fire. Each passing moment seemed to weigh heavier on us, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on our shoulders like a burden too heavy to bear.

But just as I began to resign myself to another sleepless night, Louis spoke, his voice barely above a whisper but filled with a raw emotion that cut through the darkness.

"Harry," he began, his gaze fixed on mine, "there's something I need to tell you. Something I've been trying to remember since we crashed."

I held my breath, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited for him to continue. A part of me dreaded what he was about to say, fearing the pain and heartache that his words might bring. But another part of me, a part that I had kept buried deep inside for so long, longed to hear the truth, no matter how painful it might be.

"I remember everything," Louis confessed, his voice trembling with emotion. "The breakup, the hurtful words... It's all coming back to me now and I need you to know that I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry, Harry, for everything I put you through."