The Irish Affect

3

Ryan's screaming only got worse the more we walked. It was cold out, being December, and I'm sure his ears must be so cold. I pressed the side of his head into my coat, putting his ear on the warm coat and placed my gloved hand on the other ear.

"Is he okay?" Clara asked.

"No. He's constapated and there is nothing he can do to help himself." I said with a frown.

"Is there anything we can do to help him? Does he need like, medication or something? Should we take him to a doctor?" She asked.

"I don't think there really is anything we can do for him. If I had the money, I'd take him to the doctor in a heart beat, but my money has basically disapeared; I can't afford to take him." I whispered, ashamed.

"I could, well, I could pay for it." Clara offered.

"Like hell I'm letting you spend that kind of money!" I shrieked.

"Zayn, it looks like he really needs to go to a doctor." She whispered.

I looked down, feeling very ashamed. I want my son to be well, I want my son to be happy and healthy and always be able to go to the doctor when he needs to, but I just don't have the money right now and it truley disgusts me that I can't give my son what he deserves.

"I know, I just... I can't let you spend that kind of money on us." I confessed.

"How about this, if he's still ill tomorrow we'll take him to the doctor and I'll pay for it. I'll come by tomorrow even if he isn't sick, I promise." Clara said.

"Okay." I breathed, still feeling disgusted with myself.

"It'll be okay, Zayn." She reashured me.

"I just, I want so much better for him. I don't want him to grow up calling a homeless shelter home and I want to be able to take him to the doctor whenever he needs. I want him to be better than this."

"Zayn... You'll rise above this, I swear."

"I just... I want him to have a good life."

"He will!"

I shook my head as tears creeped out of my eyes. I held my screaming son tighter to my chest; I never realized just how much I hated my life and how much I wanted him to have such a better life than I did. I had so much feeling built up inside that I had no idea how much I wanted to let it all out until now. I kissed his temple lovingly, all my feelings pouring into the kiss.

"Daddy's got you, Ryan." I chocked. "Daddy will take so much care of you. I got you, I got you baby."

"Zayn?" I heard Clara whisper.

I just shook my head and rocked Ryan. I didn't want to move, I just wanted to hold my son, to protect him from the horrors of this world.

"Zayn, are you okay? Zayn, we need to get to the shelter before it goes dark out." She pressed.

I closed my eyes tight and held my child closer to me. Ryan moaned and groaned and screamed and cried, but I let Clara pull me along to the shelter.

"Here we are."

~ Niall's POV ~

I watched Clara walk into the shelter dragging along a rather handsome guy around my age holding a screaming baby. The guy looked like he hadn't shaved in a couple of days and didn't get enough sleep, but he was clinging to that baby for dear life.

"Is everything okay?" I asked them.

"Yeah, his son is just sick." Clara said.

"Here, let me help." I said, holding my arms out for the screaming little boy.