Please Don't Be Ashamed

12

Niall was pacing his bedroom. He had called into work saying he was too sick. Luckily, his manager was a sweetheart who told him to take as much time as he needed. She didn't want customers getting sick.

Niall had chuckled at that.

He had been locked up in his room the whole week, he was too afraid to come out and face Liam.

Liam was a monster. He might try to attack and kill him.

Niall was an idiot. He should've seen the signs earlier.

The way he would clench and unclench his fists, how his eyes would close for a long time, and how he would push Niall away.

Niall wasn't even talking to Louis or Zayn.

He knew Louis knew everything, but Zayn, Zayn was a loose cannon. He could go off in an instant and telling him would find Liam pushed up against a wall.

Niall may be furious with Liam right now, but he still cared about him.

And as much as he hated to admit it, he felt like he had a duty to protect Liam.

He had to protect the scared boy. Liam was a fragile soul. He was a monster, but at the same time, he was a fragile, horrified boy who needed his protection.

Liam needed someone to love and care about him. Someone who could be there for him, and heal him.

Sure, he had Louis, but Louis was like a brother. Louis had taken him in as soon as Niall told him about Liam's state of well-being.

So, why was Louis finding it so hard to be there for Liam? Louis had, so why couldn't Niall?

Why was being there, being a friend, so hard for him? It's not like anything's changed. He had been there for Liam before he knew, so the fact that he knows now, shouldn't change anything, right?

Right?

Liam was still his friend, he still cared, he might've even loved Liam.

To Niall, Liam was his everything. His rock, his shoulder to lean on, his friend to cry to whenever he was upset.

Liam was the best thing that's ever happened to him.

Niall Horan is in love with his best friend, Liam Payne, and he's going to save him. Save him from himself.