See Me Now (Mirry: Harry Styles&Michael Clifford)

Chapter 4

*Harry's POV*

 "Uncle Haz! Don't forget to set a plate for Mike please?"

"Niall, you know what I think about setting a plate for someone who doesn't exist."

"But he does Uncle Haz, I'm not lying! I'm not a bad boy! Mike is real! I told you."

"Ni, do you really think I believe the fact that you can only see him cause you didn't grown up? This isn't Peter Pan mate... And for the record, he isn't real either."

Suddenly Niall goes all quiet, a sad and disappointed look in his eyes, puts his fingers in his ears and starts shaking his head frantically. Before I can go up to him and tell him it is for the best, the little blond boy walks out of the kitchen, chanting: "I can't hear you, I can't hear you, I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!"

His little feet bang on the stairs and his door closes with a lot of noise. Yes... Niall is disappointed, but it is for the best. All these fantasies will make him believe in miracles and magic... Sure, as a kid I believed in it myself and more than once I wished upon a falling star for a happy life, no bullying, my mum coming back from the dead for just one more day... It never happened. It's all rubbish. The less expectations Niall has in life, the less he will be put down.

The thing is though, he has me worried sick! Telling me he is seeing this Mike dude, who is my age, he makes him laugh and excepts him the way he is... As if I don't do that! Pssshhhh!

Still, why would he see a dude my age, with apparently various vibrant hair colours... If he saw a lawyer or a politician or maybe even a teacher fine, but not someone who is teaching him to be living in this fantasy world. Seriously though, what is happening to Niall. Is it cause he is traumatized, schizophrenic, cause his brain isn't function well, a brain tumour?! I am freaking out and the sooner that figment of his imagination leaves his brain, the better I'll feel. 

Niall keeps telling me nothing is wrong and that Michael is just telling him jokes and learning him new games... That I will be able to see him if I just become young again in my heart. Seriously, I'm 21, what does he think I am, some ancient, mummified skeleton? Being 21 isn't that old, I'm just responsible. If I don't behave like a grown up who knows where Niall will end up? I mean, his mum left him, his grandmother died when I was a young boy and my dad left us when Gemma and I were old enough to live on our own. Saying he couldn't stay with the people that reminded him of his dead wife. So I had to grow up when I was 14. Did I like it? No, obviously not, but by growing up so fast I knew what I wanted in life. Working hard and being mature helped me with that and look at me now: Being the youngest architect in the city, having the most clients, the most defined jobs, I earn a lot of money, have a big house and one day I'll travel the world! I don't have to worry about not having food, about an annoying boss who hates on you, about not having a roof over my head or having no decent clothing. Not having a boyfriend or friends is a small price to pay for a nearly perfect life. If I can make sure that Niall's future is as bright as mine I know I will have succeeded as a parent. He doesn't get that I want the best for him,  but I can't blame him, he is young. Life is too hard to understand, certainly at his age.

Anyway pondering won't do me any good and it is almost time for dinner, so I'll just get Niall back to the kitchen and ask him about school. He is doing good so far, the only subject he is failing is maths, so we should practice some more, starting tonight. Let's just hope that he doesn't start throwing a fit about it, cause I'm not in the mood.

Arriving at his bedroom door I hear sniffles and light talking.

"He doesn't believe me Mike... He will never believe me. Can you not show yourself to him? Please?"