almost || h.s

September 31 1963

I heard a clatter in the kitchen and a loud thud, waking me from my previous dreams. I didn't get my usual morning greeting, instead I found myself rushing towards the kitchen.

My small feet clattered on the cold tile, stopping dead in my tracks as I laid eyes on what was set in front of me.

Harry was sprawled across the floor, a shattered plate laid across the white tile. A sudden sob fell from my lips as I kneeled down towards the pale man.

I quickly checked his pulse and noticed that it was slower than normal but he was still barely breathing. I tried my best to awaken him from this shocking state. My guess is that he passed out and that extremely scares me.

My cries rang out as I continued to shake Harry, trying to get him to open his eyes, afraid that this day may be the end of him.

This is what I feared, him doing this to me. He would always ask if I would still love him when he died and I would always respond with how crazy he was and that he wasn't going anywhere, anytime soon. But now reality is what I faced, him lying lifeless on the ground.

I finally gave up, realizing that his lifeless body released his soul and he was gone. My head fell to his chest, sobs escaping as I embraced his smell, realizing it was all I had left of him.

I could still feel his ragged heartbeat against my ear. His chest rose and fell sharply, as if trying to hold on to the most amount of oxygen possible. Before I knew it, I heard a coughing erupt from Harry and my head shot up immediately.

I was faced with a a sick-looking and pale-faced Harry, coughing and rubbing the back of his head repeatedly. I sat up, embracing him and holding him tightly between my nimble fingers. I was too scared to let him go.

"Harry." I cried into his arms, feeling him weekly rub my head gently.

I finally pulled away from his embrace and was met with vibrant, been eyes. His gaze was intense, obviously in intense thought.

"E- Eliza- abeth." He stuttered, placing his hands on my cheeks, cupping my face.

Our eyes never broke away from each other's gaze. It was as if we were communicating just through our eyes, speaking every word that we desperately wanted to say.

"Harry. Are you okay?" I broke the silence, I had to. I needed to know if he was okay or not. I needed to know what exactly happend and why now. I just needed to know.

"I- I was trying to make you breakfast and I went to grab a plate and then I just felt myself collapse. All of the air was knocked out of me and that's all I remember."

"You need to see a doctor."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I just can't, okay?"

"You can't keep getting worse like this, Harry. You literally scared me. I thought you were gone." I felt my head fall, trying to avoid contact as a tear trickled down my cheek.

I felt his thumb reach underneath my chin, bringing my face up so it was facing his. Harry's eyebrows furrowed as he caught sight of my pitiful state.

"Listen to me. I want to spend every waking moment with you. I am perfectly fine. This was just a little incident. I promise that I am perfect fine, darling."

I nodded my head, bringing my head to his chest so he was holding me. We sat on the cold tile for a while before his old, giddy state returned, insisting he serve me breakfast in bed like he had planned.

I quickly ran to the bedroom, flopping in bed and squeezing my eyes shut to pretend I was really asleep. My body was curled into a ball, trying to hide the smile tugging on my lips.

I heard his loud footsteps inch closer to the bed, unable to control the tingling feeling I felt with his presence near me. He slowly began to place kisses all over my face, causing me to giggle from his idea of waking me up.

I opened my eyes to be met with same forest eyes, this time bringing me into a sweet and passionate-filled kiss. He pulled away smiling, and handing me a tray of food. On it, held a plate of fresh pancakes, sunny-side up eggs, and two pieces of bacon. It came with a cup of coffee and I couldn't help a wide smile from forming on my face.

I sat myself upright and Harry placed the tray on top of my lap. He ran around the other side of the bed, placing himself right next to me and grabbing a piece of bacon.

"Hey! That's mine!"

"I was the one that cooked it for you!"

"Well I'm the one eating, Harry."

"Never did I think that my girlfriend would eat as much as me."

"I used to eat small portions everyday because my mum would tell me it was healthy. But I gave up on that a long time ago."

He chuckled, lying his head on my shoulder and wrapping his arms around my stomach. I continued eating until my stomach was about to burst and let Harry finish the rest of the pancakes for me.

"Thank you, Harold. Breakfast was lovely. It made up for that horrid scare this morning."

"You're welcome, darling. I'm sorry about the event this morning. I don't exactly know what happened. My body just shut down."

"Harry, I told you over twenty times now. You need to visit a doctor. We haven't left your flat since I arrived and I think it's time we do."

"I don't want to. I just want to be with you."

"But you will be with me. I'll come with you."

"No. I want to stay here."

"Fine."

We laid in silence for hours, enjoying the fact that he was here next to me. It's crazy how this morning I thought I lost him and now here he his, drawing random patterns upon my stomach.

I honestly love Harry. I never thought that someone could possess my heart and grasp it with their broad fingertips, like he does. It's insane honestly. I remember thinking that I was being forced to marry a jerk but then I became inspired, looking out into the streets from my high balcony. I saw little kids playing a game of tag, real couples laughing and holding hands, and young and free people embracing the simple things in life, like staying up past their curfew and running in a nearby park.

And here I am, in love. This is probably the craziest I will ever get. I thought running away would be the climax of my life but instead it was simply the rising action. Running away led me to Harry, the climax of my life and the beautiful resolution.

"You know, you smell like daisies."
Harry commented, taking a big whiff of my night gown.

"Have I told you that you are so weird?"

"Only about fifty six times." He smiled, his dimples poking out and his cheeks broadening.

"It's weird how it's been over a month and it feels like it's been years since I've known you."

"Elizabeth?"

"Yes?"

"What was your initial thought about me when you first saw me?"

"At first, I was actually excited because I actually began to think that Oxford was some type of ghost town. But I thought you were dark and tall and mysterious. But I guess that's why I was so intrigued and determined to stop you."

"I'm glad you did."

"So am I. What were your thoughts about me?"

"I thought you were weird and a figment of my imagination. Nobody is ever out that late here in Oxford. I knew you weren't from around here and I could tell by your more proper accent. But I also thought that you were very beautiful for being alone and on the streets."

"I love you."

"I love you."

"I think it's time we fall asleep." He yawned, pulling me closer to his welcoming body.

"But this time lets not wake me up with you being unconscious." He chuckled, kidding my forehead.

"I planned on sleeping in anyways. Goodnight, Elizabeth Cooper."

"Goodnight, Harry Styles."