Falling for the Rockstar

Chapter 33 - Grace

The sterile white of the hospital walls has become far too familiar to me over the past 24 hours. It has been the hardest night of my life. The pain-both physical and emotional-has left a void inside me that I can't begin to describe. I stare at the ceiling, trying not to think, not to feel, but it doesn't help.

Louis sits beside my bed, his face serious, his hand tightly clasping mine. I know he's suffering just as much as I am, even though he's trying to stay strong. The events of the past hours replay in my mind, and even though I didn't know about the twin in my womb, losing a part of it feels unbearable.

Louis's thumb gently strokes the back of my hand, and I glance over at him. His gaze is fixed on our entwined hands, his eyes tired, dark circles etched beneath them. It's clear he hasn't slept in the last 24 hours.

"Louis," I whisper, my voice shaky.

He immediately lifts his head, his eyes searching mine. "Yes, love?"

I look at him, wanting to say something, but no words come out. Instead, a sob escapes my lips, and I let the tears I've been holding back for hours finally fall. Louis's expression shifts instantly as I break down. He releases my hand and slides into the bed beside me. He wraps me in his arms. He doesn't say anything, doesn't ask anything-he's just there.

I bury my face in his chest, the warmth of his body the only anchor I can feel right now. My tears soak through his shirt, but he doesn't seem to notice-or he just doesn't care. His arm is securely around my shoulders, the other gently stroking my back. Gradually, the tension in my body begins to ease, and exhaustion catches up with me. Louis notices but doesn't let go, holding me close as if he knows I need him near. His fingers glide soothingly through my hair, and I hear him humming softly-a melody I can't quite place, but in this moment, it's everything I need.

Slowly, my eyelids grow heavier, my breathing steadies, and eventually, I surrender to sleep, with Louis still protectively holding me in his arms.

*****

A knock jolts me awake from my sleep. Louis is still lying beside me, his arm draped over my shoulders. I'm not sure how long I've been out, but my body feels heavy and drained.

The knocking grows louder, more insistent. Louis lifts his head from the pillow, his voice rough with exhaustion as he calls out, "Come in."

The door opens, and the boys file in one by one. Their faces are serious, almost worried. Niall is holding a bag, probably with food, but the look in his eyes is far from casual. Harry and Liam exchange a glance before stepping further into the room, while Zayn hesitates in the doorway, as if debating whether to come in at all.

"Hey," Liam says finally, his voice soft, almost apologetic. "We just wanted to check on you."

I try to sit up, but Louis gently presses me back down onto the bed. "Stay lying down," he murmurs, then turns to the boys. "What's going on?"

The tension in the room is palpable. Harry pulls a magazine from his jacket, his jaw clenched as he silently hands it to Louis.

Louis takes it with a frown. I watch as his eyes scan the cover, and his expression grows even graver-a look I've rarely seen on him.

"What the hell..." he mutters, tossing the magazine aside.

"It's everywhere," Zayn finally says, his hands buried in the pockets of his leather jacket. "They have pictures from last night. Of the ambulance."

My heart begins to race. "What pictures?" I ask, though I already have a sinking feeling about the answer.

Harry shows me the magazine. On the front cover is a blurry photo of me on a stretcher, surrounded by paramedics. The headline reads: