Running Bases With You

Epilogue

{unedited}

*Annabeth's POV* -1 year later-

"Hey, Annabeth, You ready to go babe?"

"Yeah! Just give me one more second.."

I smear the eyeblack underneath my eyes and wipe my hands off on a paper towel. I lay the tube on the counter and turn off the washroom light.

"Okay, I'm ready." I smile.

Louis looks up from his phone, his keys in hand and ready to go.

He shoots me a radiant grin. "You look great."

My smile widens. "Thank you."

Today is my last home college softball game. It's senior day and this moment is definitely bittersweet, especially since I thought only a year and a half ago I would never play again.

A year ago, I was a depressed, anxious, suicidal, self-harmer with no hope; now, I'm in recovery, currently 9 months clean.

Just like I promised my little brother, I got help. I can't lie and say it was immediately after our heart to heart we had in the middle of my driveway; it took me a few months to actually find the courage to talk to someone. I would make up my mind that I was going to do it, and the moment I pulled into the clinic, I would panic. Next thing I knew, I was backing out and driving back towards home.

I would pace the floors, back and forth; I would lay on the couch and stare at the ceiling for hours, just wondering if I would ever actually keep my word. Some days I would feel it nagging at the back of my mind so terribly, I would scream and cry, kick the walls, and tug at my hair in a desperate attempt to make it go away.

But it never did. It wasn't until Louis came home on break those few months later that I finally cracked.

I had the worst episode of my life. I had finally hit my breaking point and for the third time, I tried to take my life.

Louis found me an hour later when he arrived at my flat that night. I had taken too many sleeping pills, and by too many, I mean almost half the bottle. I was drifting in and out of consciousness while Louis screamed and cried, yelling at the paramedics over the phone to hurry up. I vaguely remember him holding my hand and telling me to hold on.

"Hurry the hell up! My girlfriend is dying for God's sake, what are you doing! Please, just, j-just do something damn it!"

"Annabeth, no... Annabeth, baby, please, please don't go. I can't live without you. Fūck, I don't want to live without you. Annabeth, please hold on. Hold on for me.."

I was rushed to the hospital, hanging onto life by a thread. I was in a coma for a few days, and just when everyone thought I was finally finished, I surprised everyone. My eyes opened, and just like in the movies, I was immediately surrounded by everyone I love. My parents, my little brother, and Talia, then the boys and a few of my teammates; but the one I loved the most was nowhere to be found.

I was terrified and heartbroken. What if he had finally had enough? What if we were done?

When I had lost all hope of Louis ever coming back, he showed up. It was late at night and he thought I was sleeping; he grabbed my hand and I struggled not to cry as he spoke to me.