Half a heart

Chapter 93

Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Mental Health, Emotional Distress

Liam's POV

The moment they handed Charlie the folded flag, her badge encased in a box, and her necklace, I knew he'd reached his breaking point. He accepted the items like they were the most fragile things in the world, his hands trembling as he clutched them to his chest. But then, he collapsed, his legs giving out completely. Nick barely caught him in time, pulling him close as Charlie sank into his embrace, a heart-wrenching scream tearing from him that seemed to echo through the cemetery.

It was a sound I don't think any of us would ever forget, raw and fractured. I was rooted in place for a second, just watching, before I snapped out of it and ran to him, Harry, Niall, and Louis close behind me. We surrounded him, each of us trying to offer what comfort we could, whispering to him, rubbing his back, letting him know that he wasn't alone. But nothing was working. It was like he was locked in his own world of grief, a place we couldn't reach.

And then, another sound broke through the air-screaming, louder than even Charlie's. The boys and I turned around, horrified to see that fans had gathered outside the cemetery gates, trying to get a glimpse of what was happening. They had no idea of the moment they were intruding on, the pain that was unfolding in front of them. I felt a flash of anger and protectiveness surge through me. This was supposed to be a private farewell, but now even this moment felt stolen.

Jacob and Paul were already standing on either side of us, blocking as much of the view as they could, but the screams from outside just made everything feel worse. They added this layer of chaos, making Charlie's grief feel even more exposed.

When the ceremony finally ended, we knew we needed to get Charlie out of there, away from the eyes of the world. I turned to Paul, keeping my voice low, and asked him to grab the weighted blanket from the boot of our car. He nodded, slipping away for just a moment before returning and passing the blanket to Jacob.

Jacob knelt down beside Charlie, who was still shaking in Nick's arms. Without a word, he wrapped the blanket around Charlie, securing him in its weight. It was like the weight was grounding him, and his cries softened, his body going limp as the blanket seemed to absorb some of his pain.

Nick lifted Charlie carefully, and Jacob helped steady him, the two of them working together as we made our way back to the car. I stayed close, one hand resting on Charlie's shoulder as we walked. Every step felt surreal, like we were moving through a nightmare we couldn't wake up from. Once we reached the car, Nick settled into the back seat, and Jacob passed Charlie up to him, cradling him as he laid Charlie across his lap. As soon as Charlie's head rested against Nick, he fell silent, exhaustion finally taking over.

The drive back was quiet, each of us lost in our thoughts, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on all of us. I kept glancing back to check on Charlie, watching the way Nick held him, stroking his hair gently as he slept, the flag, badge, and necklace tucked safely in Nick's hand.

When we finally pulled into the driveway, Jacob was there instantly, carefully reaching in to lift Charlie from Nick's lap, cradling him with a tenderness I'd rarely seen. Nick followed them closely as Jacob carried Charlie up to his room, each step slow and careful. Once they reached his bed, Jacob laid him down gently, making sure he was comfortable before stepping back so Nick could settle beside him.

I lingered in the doorway, watching as Nick gently pried the flag, badge, and necklace from Charlie's grasp, placing them on a nearby shelf with so much care it was almost reverent. Then, he picked up Charlie's beloved Build-a-Bear, placing it into his arms. Charlie instinctively hugged the bear close, and Nick took a deep breath before lying down beside him, wrapping an arm around him protectively.

Jacob and I exchanged a look, and he nodded toward the door, signaling for me to leave them in peace. But even as we stepped out, I could see the tension in Jacob's shoulders, his eyes still fixed on Charlie. He was on high alert, his bodyguard instincts taking over completely.

Once outside the room, Jacob positioned himself just by the door, standing guard like he always did, solid and unyielding. I took a step back, my heart aching for Charlie but also feeling an overwhelming gratitude for the people around him, the ones who loved him fiercely, who would do anything to protect him.

Back downstairs, I found Harry, Louis, and Niall waiting in the living room, each of them looking as drained as I felt. None of us spoke for a moment, the silence heavy with everything we couldn't put into words.

Finally, Louis broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "He'll be okay, won't he?"

I nodded, though I didn't know for sure. But I had to believe it. We all did. We had to be strong for Charlie, just like he'd always been there for us.

As we sat there in that quiet, shared space, I knew one thing for certain: whatever it took, we'd be there for him, through every moment of grief, every long night. We were his family, and we weren't going anywhere.