Pieces of Time

26

Ashton's POV

The majority of this plane ride home, I've been keeping an eye on Winter. Before boarding the plane, I started reading about Winter's heart conditions and things started making sense.

Winter always slept during the flights and for the most part, she slept through the entirety of the flights. I read that due to the higher elevations, the heart has to work harder. By sleeping during the flights, however, the heart works less.

I was still unsure of her stability though, so I've been awake, making sure she was alright. I did manage to sleep for a couple hours when Luke and Michael told me they would take over. We all agreed to help watch over her this past week, and try to convince her to stay with us when we got home.

The overheard voice said the plane was ready to start descent, so I started cleaning up my area. I glanced at Winter and paused for a brief moment.

There she lay, unaware of the danger she face in her sleep. She was sleeping in her usual position, curled up into herself like a fetus. I grabbed her in a blanket, since the plane did tend to get cold and I made sure her seatbelt was always secure.

In this time we've been on the plane, with me watching over Winter diligently, I started to realize the struggles the boys must have faced when they had to take care of me. I began to understand their motives in keeping my condition a secret from me since I was now doing the exact same thing with Winter.

"Are you okay Ashton?" Calum asked concerned.

This time around, we didn't sit in the 4 seated section of the plane. Instead we sat on the 3 seated section, all together. Winter remained in the only window seat, since the other was taken up by a security guard that John requested stay with us until we found security at the airport. The rest of us, switched seats during the entire flight, which probably made the flights attendants pissed off.

Michael and Luke sat in front with the lone security guard, and Calum sat with Winter and I.

"I'm fine mate, I just barely started to understand why you all never told me." I shrugged.

"You haven't told Winter about what could happen while she sleeps." Calum small smiled grabbing my shoulder. "It's hard mate, but she'll understand just like you did."

"I'm glad you finally cleared everything up with her while we were in the airport. I would have hated to see you keep eating an unnecessary guilt." I sighed.

"She truly is a great person and a great friend." Calum smiled. "Should we wake her?" He asked.

I looked at her and slowly raised her seat back to the normal position. Since she was curled up into herself, she didn't wake.

"Not until we land." I shrugged. "She needs to rest."

"You need rest mate." Calum laughed. "You've been awake the entire flight."

"I'll sleep eventually." I small smiled. I didn't mind not getting any sleep. My priority was that Winter not die in her sleep. If my sleep was the price I had to pay for her well-being, I would never sleep again.

Landing back home, was an unexplainable feeling. Although it was completely dark outside, I knew the lights of my hometown and loved every second of it.

I shook Winter awake when the plane landed and everyone was standing in the aisle ways getting down their carry on bags.

"We're home!" Michael shouted.

"Did your mums know when we were landing?" I asked the boys. Winter was barely stretching out the plane ride and I doubt she heard me.