Half a heart

Chapter 52

Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Mental Health, Emotional Distress

Charlie's POV

I woke up to the soft hum of voices and the comforting warmth of a body beside me. For a moment, I was disoriented, unsure of where I was. But then I felt Louis's arm around me, his steady breathing, and I remembered the events of the night before. The nightmare, the fear, Louis holding me close-everything came flooding back.

I kept my eyes closed, savoring the safety of the moment. The memories of my nightmare still lingered at the edges of my mind, but they felt distant now, less real. I could hear Harry and Louis talking quietly, their voices low and soothing. I didn't want to move, didn't want to break the fragile peace that had settled around us.

"Think he's waking up," Harry's voice came, softer than usual, like he didn't want to startle me.

I felt Louis shift beside me, his grip on me tightening slightly. "Charlie? You awake, love?" he asked, his voice gentle.

I hesitated for a moment, then slowly opened my eyes. The room was softly lit by the morning sun filtering through the curtains. Louis's face was close, his eyes filled with concern and warmth. Harry was sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me with the same expression.

"Morning," I mumbled, my voice rough from sleep.

"Morning," Louis replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. "How're you feeling?"

I blinked a few times, trying to gauge how I felt. The heaviness of the night before was still there, but it wasn't as overwhelming. I felt...lighter, though not by much. "Better, I think," I said, though it came out more like a question.

Harry leaned in closer, his hand resting on my shoulder. "That's good. You scared us last night."

"Sorry," I whispered, guilt creeping in. I hated that I was causing so much worry, that they had to take care of me like this.

"Hey, none of that," Louis said quickly, reading my expression. "You've got nothing to apologize for. We're just glad you're okay."

I nodded, but the guilt didn't fully go away. I didn't want to be a burden, didn't want to keep dragging them into my mess. But at the same time, I was so grateful that they were here, that they didn't leave me to face it alone.

"Zayn and Niall went to grab us some breakfast," Harry said, trying to change the subject. "You hungry?"

I shrugged, not really sure if I was. My stomach felt unsettled, but I didn't want to worry them more by not eating. "Maybe a little," I admitted.

Louis shifted beside me, pulling away slightly so he could sit up. "We'll get you something light. You don't have to eat much, just whatever you can manage."

"Thanks," I said quietly, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over me. They always knew exactly what I needed, even when I didn't know myself.

Harry smiled softly, ruffling my hair like he used to when I was younger. "We've got your back, Charlie. Always."

I managed a small smile in return, the weight in my chest lifting just a bit more. "I know," I whispered.

A few minutes later, Zayn and Niall returned, carrying bags of food that filled the room with the comforting scent of breakfast. They greeted me with soft smiles and warm words, their presence easing the tension I hadn't even realized was still there.

We ate together, sitting on the bed and the floor, talking quietly about nothing in particular. They kept the conversation light, steering clear of anything that might bring back the darkness. I appreciated it more than I could say. It felt...normal, like a piece of our old lives before everything got so complicated.

After breakfast, Louis insisted on getting me to shower and change, even though I would've been content to stay in bed all day. But I knew he was right-I needed to keep moving, needed to find some semblance of routine, even if it was just getting dressed.

When I emerged from the bathroom, feeling a little more human, I found the boys lounging around the room, watching something on the TV. They looked so relaxed, so at ease, that for a moment, I felt like I was intruding.

But then Harry looked up, catching my eye, and he smiled. "Come join us, Charlie," he said, patting the spot on the couch next to him.

I hesitated, but then I nodded and walked over, sinking into the couch between Harry and Niall. As soon as I sat down, Niall draped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer.

"Good to have you back, mate," he said, his voice filled with warmth.

"Yeah," I whispered, leaning into him. "Good to be back."

The rest of the morning passed in a blur of laughter and easy conversation. For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't consumed by my thoughts. I was just there, with them, feeling safe and cared for.

As the day wore on, I knew that my struggles weren't over. The nightmares would probably come back, and there would be more tough days ahead. But right now, in this moment, I wasn't alone. And that was enough.