Walking Through the Time Capsule

Chapter 65

Walking Through the Time Capsule

Chapter 65

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Niall...

It'd been two weeks since Annabelle woke up from the coma on her birthday. It was a long two weeks, with many ups and downs. I can't even count how many times she'd wake up in the middle of the night, screaming from nightmares. What killed me the most was that the first few nights, the nurses forced me to go home. We were lucky they bent the rules for her birthday, but they had to follow the 'no visitation' rules at night. I couldn't sleep that first night, knowing my princess was all alone in the hospital. I laid awake, tossing and turning, all night long. I got a call in the middle of the night, and all I could hear in the background was her heart wrenching screams. I rushed to the hospital, and once I got there, she was calmed. This happened for the next two nights, before the hospital staff gave in. They all agreed it was best for her recovery if I stayed close to her, so while everyone else had to leave, I was given a cot next to her bed. I never actually slept on it, but they didn't need to know it. She still had the nightmares, even with my arms safely wrapping her into me, but her attacks didn't last as long once she looked into my eyes.

Aside from her nightly terrors, she was also still suffering with recovery. It made me so angry that those bastards were still hurting her without even being here. She was so physically week, that her physical therapy was a long and painful process. Usually one of the other lads and I were always there with her, and it hurt so bad to watch her cry through the whole thing. Even just lifting her arms with a ball in her hands was painful for her. She couldn't walk without help, she couldn't sit up without me lifting her. She was just so battered and beaten that she was still too weak. It was sure taking a long time for her to heal.

Also, because of being starved, she had developed a mild case of anorexia, making it near impossible to eat. Everything she tried, even simple things like yogurt and applesauce, her stomach ended up rejecting, causing most everything she ate to come back up. She'd been consistently on IVs in order to get her energy back up, while occasionally being fed solid foods. It angered me so much. I wasn't angry at her though, but at those scum for making this happen.

Through all the pain and suffering though, she fought through most of it with a smile. Sure, she had her moments were she cried and was angry at herself for being weak, which was a lot, but she also kept the same positivity that she'd always shown through hard times. She really was the one holding us together. It was hard for all of us to see her like this, and we all had moments where we had to step out of the room to let out our angry tears before coming back in like we didn't just have a nervous breakdown. Aside from me, Louis and Harry were taking it the worst. Us three were the ones that had the most breakdowns in the hallway out of all of us.

And then there were peaceful moments like these. Moments where there were no doctors and nurses bothering us, probing her with questions and needles. Moments where we were alone, where I held her in my arms, played with her hair, and was comforted by the soft sound of her steady breathing. It was times like this where we could forget the reality of the situation.

"Niall?" Annabelle's quiet whisper broke the silence of the steady beeping of machines.

"Yes, darlin'?"

She reached up her hand, glancing up slightly, and traced my jaw with her fragile little finger. "When can I go home?" Her voice cracked a little, warning me that tears would come soon.

"Annabelle..." I breathed, sitting up slightly so I could look into her eyes. "I promise, before you know it, we'll be back home, lounging by the pool. I believe in you, Annabelle. You are the strongest girl I know. You'll get through this." I said, brushing some hair off her cheek.