A Match Into Water (Neeroy Fanfiction)

Chapter 20

Niall's POV

Liam and I waited in the hospital waiting room together but on seperate chairs. It wasn't that now I hated him, because in all honesty, I still loved him, even after everything he's done. It was December 18th- not long until Christmas. But I didn't feel in the festive mood.

I was the only one, though. Zayn and Veronica's house was blasting with wacky Christmas decorations. There were so many of them: dazzling santas, flashy rudolphs and icy snowmen. But I was glad that Zayn was okay now; he still wasn't talking to Harry, but he seemed happier. Harry's house did not have any decorations, but he took Veronica to a fancy restaurant and then afterwards kissed her under the ginormous Christmas tree in our town square.

Louis was festive, too, always out buying Christmas presents for his family and friends. Lou was extremely rich since his parents both worked amazingly good jobs which payed excellent money, so you could always count on him for that expensive present you want but your parents can't afford.

Liam was less festive but he still decorated his home and has all of his Christmas presents sorted, and insisted that he bought me a special gift though I demanded that I wanted nothing this Christmas than to have my Leeroy back.

Just at that moment, Leeroy's doctor Dr.Welsh stumbled through the door whilst checking his notebook with his eyebrows furrowed. He wore his usual white Doctor-y outfit which I had gotten pretty used to in these last few months- yes, I said it- Leeroy has been in the coma for exactly two months and seven days.

"So, Mr Payne, Mr Horan," Dr.Welsh began, tossing his notebook on a table messily. "You said you wanted to see me about something to do with Leeroy."

Dr.Welsh used to call Leeroy Mr.Payne, but since they had pretty much "bonded", he has now gotten used to naming him Leeroy. But I wasn't sure it helped; my heart throbbed painfully whenever I heard my boyfriends' name.

Liam swallowed noisily from two seats in beside me. "Um... yes, Dr.Welsh-"

"Please, call me Benjamin," Dr.Welsh interjected.

Liam nodded and sighed. I knew it was hard for him too, despite the fact of his whole life despising his brother. It was his sibling, after all. I didn't blame him. But it was difficult to find someone who hated this as much as me so I doubted he did, but everyone was wounded in this battle. Even my mother seemed more depressed lately, since he and her bonded really well. She loved him. I couldn't find anyone else beside Liam who disliked him.

"So, um..." Liam began shakily. "Look, there's no improvements to Leeroy, right? Nothing has changed, nothing has gotten better for him... not even worse?"

Benjamin's eyebrows furrowed again and he bit his lip. "It is hard to say... but in all honesty, no, he hasn't improved. But what is it you're telling me, boys?"

I felt Liam glance towards me for help, probably- but I couldn't meet his gaze. My eyes were glued to the floor, and at this moment, I felt ashamed. Was I even putting my guy out of his misery, or was I just taking away his life? Was I murdering him? 

Was I right for agreeing to this? I wasn't sure. But Liam was right- no improvements. Just another bed wasted, used for someone who is hardly even living anymore. I felt the tears prick in my eyeballs yet again. All the damn time.

But I couldn't move my lips to answer Benjamin. I heard Liam grounding his teeth together like he really couldn't get the words out. I knew how hard it must be, but I wasn't going to tell the doctor, so either Liam does it or nobody does.

"Look, doctor," Liam mutters through his teeth. "I know how these things work, okay? I've seen TV shows about people in coma's about a bajillion times, so I just know. I've also seen the A&E programs. I've seen this one when this dude is in a coma for three months and makes no development, so they switched off the machines."

The room was silent for a second as Benjamin swallows hard and absorbs what Liam is trying to tell him. I guess this was Liam's way of telling him what we've decided without actually telling him. It was a good way out of the equation, I'll give him that.

Benjamin takes a deep breath. "So you've decided to turn off his machines? You mean... you have chosen to take him away from all of this?" He gestures towards Leeroy's room door.

He eyes me, and I know why. I had told him everything about how I wasn't letting go and I would keep up hope for Leeroy. But I didn't have another choice now. So I understood why Dr. Welsh would be confused about how abrupt I've changed my mind, so I just gave him the apology-glare. 

Liam shrugged. "What's the point in keeping him here when those machines could save another person's lives which is worth saving?"

I flinched because the words stung, no matter how true they were. The coma equipment weren't saving Leeroy, but they could save another helpless victim. We were sort of being selfish, keeping him here when there was no hope anyway. It was all just utter bullshit.

"Are you sure about this, Liam? Niall?" Benjamin whispered. His dark eyes glistened in disappointment. I was sure he wanted to make Leeroy live more than anything; we all did. But it was no use. The meds didn't work. The system didn't work. Nothing worked. He was just... sort of there. Half-dead already. I gulped down the bile which arised from my throat.

"Well, if that's how you really feel," Benjamin continued when none of us replied. "We will have to talk to both-or at least one-of your parents, Liam."

I knew, a bit like Zayn's, Liam's parents don't live with them. Liam's dad went AWOL since he was a baby (I didn't know anything else but that; Liam hates talking about his father). Liam's mother, apparently, fell in love with some bloke who came from Australia so she left them when Leeroy turned eighteen and ran off with her new boyfriend.

"I-I don't have any parents anymore," Liam mumbled sheepishly. Leeroy had always been his... well, his parent, if you like. His guardian. 

"Oh," Benjamin answered, giving a sympathetic smile. "All right, I'll just get some paperwork. It'll take time, so come back tomorrow and I'll have it all ready, okay?"

Liam nodded and shook hands with him. Benjamin patted him on the back and whispered something in his ear which I could not hear. I stood up from my chair and ambled out of the room, half-expecting Liam to join me but he didn't. I didn't really mind.

I drove home in a borrowed Toyota Yaris from my Mum's friend Aaron and sped away down the motorway with the windows rolled down. The wind flew around my hair and nipped at my cheeks, but I didn't really care. It was freezing out; I mean, it was December, but the wind was so noisy that I didn't have to listen to my own thoughts.

I arrived home pretty quick as the hospital wasn't too long away from my home, so I unlocked the door and stepped inside. My mum was out doing Christmas shopping and my brother Greg was asleep in the spare room after playing GTA all night.

I decided to skip to my bedroom and play my guitar. I liked to think I was good at this particular instrument, though I wasn't too sure. Nobody had heard me play before, I had to teach myself. But I could play my favourite song by Ed Sheeran so I was fine.

I eventually collapsed into bed and fell asleep, dreaming of death.

***

PLEASEEEEE read my sisters new fanfic Coffee Shop

@namelesstori

Thank you, I'd be so  grateful and I'll try and update more, sorry I haven't been updating that frequently but this is my last day of the Christmas holidays so school tomorrow;(

But I'll try and update in the week, I promise!(:

Hopefully the ending of this isn't too blatant, but who the hell cares? Not me!:D

-ChloeTomlinson<3