Love is a Time Limit (Niall Horan)

Chapter 10: Returning Home

Chapter 10: Returning Home

(Niall Horan, age 20)

'Don't ever let me go, okay?'

As my condition seemed to be staying on the neutral side while I was with Simon and the boys, the symptoms eventually caught up to me and I was forced to tell them all about the true vulnerable Niall Horan. Small but harmless heart attacks grew more frequent as well as the difficulty to breathe which soon enough became a tedious task itself. All of it made recording music and even doing the smallest of everyday tasks a challenge. Projecting my singing voice made the air in my lungs fade quickly, laughing a little too hard at Louis' jokes brought pain, and even a small jog to the fridge in the loft the boys and I shared took a negative effect on my body.

'You're going to leave me here with nothing...'

Somehow all of those events; telling them all the truth, paying visits to the doctor more frequently, dealing with the strain on my body, all brought me back to Mullingar and Verena all at the same time.

Coming home opened up so many doors despite the new limitations my body could take. I had the chance to see Verena again and set things straight, maybe even let love hit me one final time before I was due to leave everything and everyone. Of course, the boys came by with me, being the caring lads they were. It was so sweet to come home and feel like I could do anything, as if I had all the time in the world to make things right and finally let go of the pain waiting for me there. Nevertheless, once I did pay a visit to the doctor, Verena's father, it soon became clear that I wasn't just home...but I was practically at my deathbed.

Whether or not Verena and I did get back together and somehow found love again, it would all just be a waste of time. All of those emotions would be built up to such a strong point only to be destroyed again only this time, harder and harsher than the last.

I think she knew that my story was ending from the very first time she looked at me after so long.

'He's-'

~~

(Niall Horan, age 18)

Niall's father sat in the Mullingar hospital library with a strongly clenched jaw; Niall had finally come home, but the happiness of seeing his son again was short lived. With the news of his condition getting worse, he was forced to come back home upon his own request, as well as leaving his spot in One Direction. Not only that, but he had brought along all of the boys he had grown so close to as a sudden surprise.

Not even a single day had passed since the arrival and already things were looking grim with how the symptoms were escalating. Niall's father had barely seen his own flesh and blood before he was off to the hospital yet again for more tests on his son; but he wasn't alone for once. Sure Greg was off at work for the rest of the day and into the night, but the lads Niall brought along with him stuck around and waited in the hospital lobby as well.

"Cut it out, Louis, we're in a bloody hospital!" Zayn seethed and delved into the magazine sitting in his lap once more, this time without Louis' senseless hushed chatter about Sherbet.

Niall's father found himself chuckling at Louis, who was clearly putting on a show to cheer him up while waiting for Niall to come back out. All of the boys were putting on some sort of disguise to hide the worry essentially; the heart condition was still so new and vague to them all.

"You four really are something," Niall's father finally lets out after taking in a good look at the boys his son had spent roughly two years with. They were all characters in themselves and each offered some sort of casual feel to them. Though they were famous, it was hard for Niall's father to compare them to the other celebrities who were all full of themselves. The four lads sitting with him in the lobby were real and sincere, and from the looks of it made a point to show those traits.