Half a heart ( Book 1)

Chapter 42

Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Mental Health, Emotional Distress

Nick's POV

The night was quiet, the kind of stillness that felt heavy, as if the air itself was holding its breath. After what had happened with Charlie earlier, the weight of that silence felt even more oppressive. It was well past midnight, and I was still in Charlie's room, sitting on the edge of his bed. He was lying down, staring up at the ceiling, his face a mixture of exhaustion and anxiety.

"Nick," he murmured, his voice small, almost lost in the darkness. "Can you... can you stay tonight? I don't think I can sleep on my own."

His request was barely above a whisper, and I could hear the vulnerability in his voice. It broke my heart to see him like this-Charlie, who was always so strong, so determined, now reduced to someone who was scared of his own mind.

"Of course, Charlie," I replied without hesitation. "I'll stay as long as you need me."

A small, grateful smile tugged at the corners of his lips, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thanks," he said, shifting a little under the covers to make room for me.

I moved to the other side of the bed, kicking off my shoes before lying down next to him. It wasn't the first time we'd shared a bed-there had been sleepovers, road trips, all the usual things-but this felt different. This wasn't about fun or camaraderie; it was about comfort, about making sure Charlie knew he wasn't alone.

We lay there in silence for a while, the only sound being our breathing, in sync with each other. I could tell he was trying to fight sleep, trying to stave off the nightmares that he knew would come once he closed his eyes.

"Charlie," I said softly, breaking the quiet. "You're safe here. I'm right next to you, okay? If you have another nightmare, I'll wake you up. You don't have to go through it alone."

He nodded slightly, but I could see the doubt lingering in his eyes. "I'm just... scared, Nick," he admitted, his voice barely audible. "I don't want to go back there, to that place in my head. It feels so real every time, like I'm really going to faint again, like I'm letting everyone down all over again."

"You're not letting anyone down," I assured him, reaching out to hold his hand. "You're going through something really tough right now, but that doesn't make you weak. It makes you human. And you don't have to face it by yourself. I'm here, Harry's here, Liam's here-we're all here for you."

Charlie squeezed my hand in response, his grip tight, as if he was holding on to those words. "I'm trying, Nick," he whispered. "I really am."

"I know you are," I said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze back. "And that's what matters. One step at a time, right? We'll get through this together."

Charlie didn't say anything else, but he shifted closer to me, his body curling slightly as if seeking comfort. I could feel his breathing slow down a little, the tension in his muscles easing as he allowed himself to relax.

Eventually, his breathing evened out, and I knew he had finally fallen asleep. I stayed awake a little longer, just listening, making sure he was really asleep and not just resting. When I was certain he was in a deep enough sleep, I closed my eyes, too, letting the calm of the night finally take over.

Even as I drifted off, though, I kept my hand in his, ready to pull him back to safety if the nightmares returned.

And in that moment, lying there next to Charlie, I knew I would do whatever it took to help him get through this. Because that's what you do for the people you care about-you stand by them, even in the darkest of nights.