Only You {h.s}

Chapter Forty One

My breath is so shaky and uneven I might as well not be breathing at all. The cold barrel of the gun presses against my temple. I think I'm going to throw up.

I hear him click the safety off. His hand is shaky, rattling the gun against my skin.

There is a moment of silence. A brief second of clarity that leaves me knowing.

This is it.

I wasn't meant to grow old with him. I won't marry him. I'll never see the way he looks at me anymore. I always loved that look.

I'll never be able to listen to his heartbeat or the raspy drawl of his voice. I'll never see his dimples again. I'll never hear the steady, unfaltering beating of his heart.

It's my favorite song.

Harry gave me the best days of my life and he tried so hard. He tried so hard to protect me. I just wasn't meant to live a long, happy life.

But I love him. I'm so happy I got to love him. I'm so sad I have to leave him. I don't want to. Please, God, please I can't leave him I love hi-

---

The loud bang of a gunshot rings through my ears, stopping all thought process. My eyes stay clenched shut as my heart pounds heavily in my chest. For a lingering moment, I don't hear anything but white noise.

Am I dead?

"Meredith!" Large hands cup my cheeks. "Mer? Look at me. Please, please look at me," the familiar voice begs.

I don't want to. I can't. My body is shaking and I feel like I can't breathe. If I really am dead, I shouldn't feel like my lungs are about to collapse, right? If I'm gone, shouldn't it feel like peace?

"Baby, please," the voice breaks.

I flutter my eyes open after another moment of panic just to have my heart stop. Harry is standing in front of me, just like I've been dreaming of for I don't know how long.

His big green eyes let out all the tears he was holding in. I sit stunned, not sure if this is even reality. I try to move my hands to him, to touch him, needing to know if I'm dead or dreaming or if this is really happening. But I can't. I still can't move and it's killing me.

Where is Mr. Carter? I can't move my head to look around. He's going to hurt Harry. Or Zayn is. Oh my God, he has to get out of here. I look into his eyes to see if they hold the panic mine do, but it's only relief. Relief and concern, but concern only for me.

Harry is looking me over for any and all signs of harm. He takes my hands in his, extending my limp arms toward himself. He must've untied my hands without me even noticing. The wrist I fell on just minutes earlier is in excruciating pain, but I can't flinch away from his hold. He examines the swelling and scrunches his eyes closed for a moment, gently letting go.

Harry bites his lip as tears continue to fall down his cheeks. My arms are covered in bruises from Mr. Carter's and Zayn's strong grip. I know my face must be a mess of cuts and bruises too. I feel so disgusting.

He takes off his jacket and lays it over my shoulders, covering me. He pulls my hair out of where it was caught in the back and runs his fingers through the knotted mess.

"What did they do to you?" he murmurs in a broken voice, his eyes trailing over my injuries. "Please say something. I need to hear your voice," he begs between cries.

I try with everything I have to speak, but it's useless. I just want to talk to him. His expression grows sadder once he knows I'm staying quiet.