Half a heart

Chapter 113

Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Mental Health, Emotional Distress

Harry's POV

The beat of the song pulsed through me, my voice flowing effortlessly as we powered through the album setlist. We were halfway through, at one of my favorite songs that Charlie sang—his voice was powerful, his drumming intense. But then, mid-beat, everything stopped.

I froze for a split second, only for my gaze to snap over to the drums. Charlie was on the floor, Max nudging him with anxious licks. Panic tightened in my chest as I rushed across the stage, barely registering that Louis and Niall had stepped in, engaging the fans with casual banter, reading signs to try and keep them occupied. I fell to my knees beside Charlie, cradling his head in my lap. He looked so small and fragile, a stark contrast to the confident musician he'd been just moments before.

"Come on, buddy," I murmured, brushing some hair out of his face. Max continued his gentle nudges and licks, determined to wake him. A stage crew member hurried over with a bottle of water, and I eased Charlie up slightly so he was sitting more comfortably in my lap. He blinked groggily, still out of it, as I helped him take a few sips.

"Easy there, Charlie," I whispered, holding him securely while he leaned against me, Max pressed against his legs for added support. I brushed my fingers through his hair, hoping to calm him, but his eyelids were heavy, and his head kept drooping to the side. He was fighting to stay awake, but he clearly needed more help.

Seeing this, I quickly motioned to Max. "Max, go get Louis. Stay with Liam after, okay?"

Max, as always, understood right away. He dashed over to where Louis was still trying to entertain the crowd, giving him the sign to come over. Without missing a beat, Louis lowered his mic and hurried to my side, dropping to his knees beside us.

"Hey, love, you alright?" Louis asked softly, rubbing Charlie's arm as he looked up at him with genuine concern. "We need you to stay with us for a bit, yeah?"

Charlie groaned softly, his eyes still fluttering closed. "'M tired..."

Louis shared a worried glance with me. "I know, mate, but you gotta stay awake a little longer, just to make sure you're okay. Don't want you nodding off just yet, alright?"

Charlie just mumbled, "Too tired, Lou..."

Louis forced a light smile, giving Charlie's shoulder a squeeze. "How about this, kiddo? Some of the fans had signs that were pretty great. I saw one saying 'Charlie's smile lights up the whole room.' Pretty true, huh?"

Charlie's head slumped again, his eyes barely open. I looked to the side stage and signaled for the medics as the lights and mics were turned off to give us some privacy. Within moments, the medics arrived, assessing Charlie while Max stayed right by him, instinctively lying across his legs. Max's presence was a steadying force, his warm gaze focused entirely on Charlie, as he licked his face to keep him from drifting off completely.

Carefully, I lifted Charlie in my arms and carried him offstage, Max and the medics close behind. We made our way to the dressing room, where I gently sat Charlie on the couch, Max resuming his place across his legs. I ran my fingers through his hair, a soothing rhythm as he slowly started to come around.

But as his eyes began to focus, he suddenly went limp again, his eyes rolling back. My heart leapt in fear as the medics acted quickly, elevating his legs to help with his circulation. Max nudged Charlie's face, whimpering softly, refusing to let him slip away. I kept my hand in his hair, murmuring comforting words, hoping he could hear me somewhere through the haze.

Finally, his eyes opened once more, unfocused but aware. The medics set up an IV to get him hydrated, and I sighed in relief, feeling some of the tension ease. As they got him stable, a crew member came in, letting us know they were escorting fans out of the stadium.

Louis, Niall, and Liam soon joined us, all of them visibly shaken. We surrounded Charlie, each of us making sure he felt safe and supported.