Downfall [Punk Niall Horan]

54

HARRY'S POV

I watched Tylie's dark eyelashes flutter as she gave a fluttering breath, trying to hold eye contact with me. Without even realizing it a tear had slipped down my shocked face and landed on her cheekbone. Fear so strong coursed through me I almost fell over, and I had to hold onto her to keep me anchored.

"Why.. why would say that, Ty," I whispered in disbelief, voice shaking uncontrollably. She had been given a second chance at life. Why did she want to die so much? It absolutely crushed me because if it wasn't for her fucked up father, she would have had a beautiful life where she didn't want to die. She would have cherished every second, and loved freely and openly. Tylie wouldn't have to worry about something bad around the corner every second.

"Because it's true, H," Tylie wheezed, grabbing my hand and regaining her voice a little, "Do you know what it feels like to have the man who completely destroyed my brain, kid inside of me, eating away at the little part of what's left of me? Even if I did want to have a baby, it wouldn't be now in a world like this where there is excruciating pain everywhere you turn."

"It's not a world to even live in, H, much less be born into and have to grow up in. Especially if it doesn't even have a father," she whispered brokenly, flicking her eyes away as tears started to escape them. Without even hesitating I ran my thumbs gently beneath her puffy eyes, wanting to tell her that Niall didn't leave her because he never loved her. He left because the only thing he could do was love her so much.

Niall sacrificed everything to try and win this war, and I couldn't tell Tylie because she would destroy herself and the baby trying to get to him. It's just how strong their love was.

Power surged through me as she grabbed onto my wrists and stared up at me with her beautiful, watery eyes. I grabbed her face and smiled gently at her, "Listen to me, Tylie. That baby will not grow up without a father, do you hear me? I will be its father, we do not need Niall. You do not need Niall to do this."

Her pink lips trembled, "But what if I do need him, Harry? I can't even bring myself to say I hate him after all of this. I still don't want to believe that everything was a lie, but it's the only option I have. I don't think I can do this by myself." My heart thundered in my chest as I stared down at the broken girl in the hospital bed who was still so strong after everything that tore her entire being apart.

"You have me," I smiled, and half laughed a little bit, "I'm not going anywhere, love. You have me wholly and completely. I am unavoidably yours. Whatever you need, I'm there." When she smiled up at me with what seemed like hope I finally felt life rush back into me.

And without even thinking, I kissed her.

And she kissed me back.

I knew I was selfish for doing this in her moment of weakness, but this gave me the courage and strength for whatever was to come next. Her trembling hand fell onto my warm skin, and I felt fireworks explode beneath her fingertips. I pushed her matted hair from her face and gently drug my thumb down her wet cheek.

I hated the regret I saw in her eyes when I pulled back from her, though she tried to cover it up with a heart warming smile.

I smiled, but it came out as a grimace. Tylie's face immediately screwed up into one of sadness, "Harry, I'm..". I shook my head quickly and gave her a real smile, leaning over to kiss her on her heated forehead. "I understand, love..", I started, but she cut me off quickly.

"No, I don't think you do," she whispered breathily, and then pulled me by my collar back down to her lips where she gave me the most heart wrenching kiss. I pulled away again as we smiled against each other's lips, but I knew she was only trying to feel something that wasn't there for her.