Broken Hearts...

sixteen

That night, after the tears had finally dried and the weight of Harry's emotions had eased just a little, Louis didn't leave. He stayed by Harry's side, his presence grounding, like an anchor keeping Harry from drifting too far into the storm of his own fears and memories.

The two of them had settled into the small room at the safe house, the air quiet and still. Harry sat on the edge of the bed, his fingers running absently through Emma's soft curls as she slept in the crib beside him. She was his constant, his reminder of why he had done this—why he had to keep going.

Louis moved quietly around the room, his movements calm but deliberate, as though he was trying not to disturb the fragile peace that had settled between them. He hadn't said much since Harry's breakdown earlier, but he didn't need to. 

The fact that Louis was here—staying with him—was enough. It meant more than Harry could put into words.

After a while, Louis finally spoke, his voice low in the dim light of the room. "I'm not leaving tonight, you know."

Harry glanced up, surprised but relieved. "You don't have to stay, Louis. You've already done so much. I—I don't want to be a burden."

Louis crossed the small room in two strides and sat down next to Harry on the bed. Their knees brushed, and the closeness sent a rush of warmth through Harry's chest. "You're not a burden," Louis said, his voice firm. "Don't ever think that. I want to be here. I don't want you to go through this alone."

Harry's eyes dropped to the floor, uncertainty flickering in his chest. He wasn't used to this—having someone care so deeply, having someone choose to stay. With April, love had always been conditional, tied to a thread that could snap the moment she felt slighted or angry. But with Louis, it felt different. It felt real.

"Why?" Harry whispered, the question slipping out before he could stop it. "Why are you doing this? After everything... after all this mess I'm in..."

Louis looked at him for a long moment, his blue eyes soft but unwavering. Then, with a sigh, he leaned back on the bed, his shoulder brushing against Harry's. "Because you're important to me, Harry. You always have been."

Harry's heart stuttered at those words. He turned to face Louis, his breath catching in his throat. "What do you mean?"

Louis smiled, but it was a small, sad smile, one that made Harry's chest ache. "You've been in my life for years, mate. I've seen you go through so much, but you've never let me in—not really. And I get it. I get why. But I'm here now. And I'm not going to let you push me away again. Not this time."

The raw sincerity in Louis's words hit Harry like a wave, washing over him with a force that left him feeling exposed, vulnerable. His walls—the ones he had spent years building up to protect himself from April and everything else—felt like they were crumbling under Louis's gaze.

"I didn't want you to see me like this," Harry admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't want you to see how broken I've become."

Louis's eyes softened even more, and he reached out, gently placing a hand on Harry's. "You're not broken, Harry. You've been through hell, yeah, but you're still standing. You're still fighting. And that's more than enough."

Harry swallowed hard, feeling the sting of fresh tears behind his eyes. He hadn't cried this much in years, and it both embarrassed and comforted him to be so exposed in front of Louis. It felt like a release he hadn't known he needed.

"I feel so... lost," Harry confessed, his voice trembling. "I've been so scared for so long. I didn't know if I'd ever get out, if I could ever be free from her. And now that I'm here, I don't know what comes next. I don't know how to be normal again."

Louis squeezed his hand, his touch steady and warm. "You don't have to figure everything out right now. You've already done the hardest part, H. You got out. That's huge. The rest will come in time, and I'll be here every step of the way. We'll figure it out together."

Harry's heart clenched at the sound of the nickname—H. It was so familiar, something Louis had always called him during their band days, back when life was simpler. Back when there had been music and laughter, and the future hadn't seemed so terrifying.

"I don't deserve this," Harry said softly, his eyes downcast. "I don't deserve you."Louis's expression grew serious, and he gently tilted Harry's chin up so their eyes met. "Don't you dare say that. You deserve everything, Harry. Love, support, happiness—all of it. You've been through enough, and it's time you start letting people in. Let me in."

Harry's breath hitched in his chest, the weight of Louis's words sinking deep into his bones. He wanted to believe it, wanted to let himself be cared for, but the fear of being hurt again still loomed large. Yet here was Louis, offering him a chance—offering him safety, love, and something he hadn't dared dream of for years.

Louis leaned forward, pulling Harry into a gentle hug, his arms wrapping securely around him. It wasn't rushed or intense; it was calm, reassuring, and steady. Harry leaned into the embrace, resting his head against Louis's shoulder, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath. For the first time in what felt like forever, he let himself relax into someone else's care, someone else's warmth.

"I'm not going anywhere, Harry," Louis murmured, his voice soft but filled with promise. "I've got you. We'll take this one step at a time."

Harry nodded, his face buried in the crook of Louis's neck. He didn't trust his voice to speak, but he didn't need to. Louis seemed to understand, his hold on Harry tightening slightly, a silent reminder that he wasn't alone anymore.

They stayed like that for a long time, the world outside the safe house fading away. The future was still uncertain, and Harry knew that the road ahead would be hard. There would be days when fear and doubt would threaten to pull him under again. But for now, in this moment, he felt safe.

For the first time in a long time, Harry allowed himself to feel loved.

And it was enough.