Crazy Little Thing Called Love

Room 372 Or Saying Goodbye

Hi everyone, this was one of the most difficult chapters I ever wrote and I would like to apologise in advance for what you will read in this chapter. Please know that it wasn't an easy decision, but it felt like the right thing to do for the plot I have planned out. If you need someone to talk to, please feel free to message me any time. All the love, Summer xxx

I didn't hear back from Harry for another two weeks, but rumours were flying around online that Harry Styles had gotten a part in a Christopher Nolan movie and I had sent him a text asking him how his audition went. Not hearing from him hurt, but I knew that I deserved the silent treatment after I had ignored him for two weeks and I was sure he had his own reasons for not replying.

I was lying own my sofa upside down, as you do, so that my legs were propped up against the back of the sofa, my hair nearly touching the ground, while I was eating some crisps, contemplating my life and my feelings for Louis. My computer was quietly playing music in the background, just loud enough so that it was audible over the pouring rain outside. Unfortunately, winter in London didn't always mean snow and cold. Most of the time it was just rainy and cold and the cold wind made you think twice before you went outside.

My phone rang and I lazily reached out my hand, trying to get a hold of it without moving too much. "MUM" was flashing across the screen and I felt a sinking sensation inside of me, fearing that this would be the call I had been fearing for years. I took a deep breath, before I answered the phone. "Hi, mum." There was a short silence at the other end of the line. "Mum?" I asked hesitantly and I heard a sniff. "Claire, it's... it's dad, Claire. He just had a stroke and the doctors are not sure if he will make it until tomorrow morning and I..." She burst into tears and I quickly sat up, nearly falling off the sofa in the process.

"Mum, it's okay. I'll drive up now. I'll be there in about two hours, okay? Stay strong, I love you, mum." I tried to stay as calm as possible, doing everything I could possibly do to ignore the news she had just given me. "Thank you. I love you, too. Drive safely!" I hung up on here and took a few deep breaths, trying to avoid the panic attack which was threatening to take over my body. When my breathing had gone back to normal, I jumped up and sprinted into my room, randomly throwing some clothes and other necessaries into one of my bags, before leaving a short note for Lily on the kitchen table.

The drive up to Norwich seemed endless and I tried to distract myself by listening to some music on the radio, but the only thing I could think about was my dad. I couldn't allow myself to feel anything, or to process why I was driving up to the hospital right now, because otherwise I would never make it there. After two long hours, I finally pulled up in front of the hospital and immediately rushed inside, making the woman at the reception look up.

"Hi, I am here to see my dad? Richard Winters, he was submitted about three hours ago." I told her and forced myself to smile, which she returned. "He is on ICU, room 372, love. It's on level three and then the first door on your right, but you will need to sign in with the nurses." I nodded and had already started to turn around, when she called me back. "Miss? Are you okay? You are incredibly pale." She shot me a concerned look and I tried to give her, what I thought was a reassuring smile, and nodded. "I'm fine, thank you." She didn't look entirely convinced, but let me go anyway.

Too impatient to wait for the lift, I sprinted up the stairs instead, probably looking like a mad woman with my yoga pants, Louis' oversized Adidas hoodie and my winter boots on, my hair in a messy bun, loose strands sticking out like little antennas. Slightly out of breath, I stopped in front of the reception desk, my hands clutching my sides. A work out was really overdue and I would have laughed at myself if I hadn't been on ICU to say goodbye to my dad. A nurse came out of the nurses' office behind the counter and walked over to me, giving me a kind smile which I tried to return as well as I could.