London Bridges

Chapter 28: Step Three

"Louis exhibited an extensive pattern of impulsive behavior before getting treatment.  You should expect that to return, although to what degree I cannot say.  The important thing is to try to get him to stop and think.  If you're able to anticipate his actions, obviously the goal is to make sure he doesn't harm himself or others.  Avoid activities that are inherently risky."

"What the fuck do you mean you can't find him?"

"I mean he's not here, I've looked all over the property."

"You should've been keeping a better eye on him!" Zayn yells over the phone.

"Its seven in the bloody morning!" Liam yells back, frustrated.  "We were sleeping!"

"Obviously one of you wasn't!  This shit always happens when you find the need to be fucking selfish."

"I'm being selfish?"

"What else would you call guilting Louis into leaving his entire life behind?  You know he didn't want to go to Wolverhampton."

"I had to come back," Liam defends himself.  "Just because you can't understand that doesn't mean I have to explain myself to you."

"You had to go back," Zayn emphasizes.  "Louis could've stayed here like he wanted to, but he went for you.  When are you gonna realize you can't be selfish with him, Liam?  He has a serious mental illness, he can cause massive damage when he's out of control.  His health should always be top priority."

Louis wakes up at 5am completely wired.  He had slept a lot the day before, and now with all the medication worn off, his body just has to move.  He gets dressed and sneaks out of the room as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb Liam.  He makes his way downstairs and finds Silver sleeping by the front door.  He sits up when he hears Louis approach.

"Want to go for a walk?" Louis asks him.

Silver whines in response, laying his head back down flat against his front paws.

"Suit yourself then," Louis chuckles, slipping out the door and into the night.

The night is cold and foggy.  Louis creates smoke on each exhale without having to light a cigarette.  His clothes are damp after five minutes, the dew clinging to him.  He doesn't turn around though, he can barely feel the chill.  Before he knows it, Louis is at the edge of the property.  He considers turning back, but his mind is still racing and his legs still want to walk.  Also, he's suddenly hit with the urge for a Starbucks.  Louis decides to walk into town, it can't be that far.

Liam gets a call at 1pm and races out of the house.  He's driving faster than he's ever driven before, and it probably doesn't help that his chest is tight and his vision is blurred with tears.  They wouldn't tell him anything over the phone.  All he knows is Louis was taken to Royal Stoke Hospital, forty minutes outside of Wolverhampton.

By some miracle, Liam makes it to the hospital in one piece, without causing any accidents.  He sends a prayer up to whatever god there is, asking for his luck to hold and for Louis to be alright.  Liam barely hears the security guard tell him Louis' room number before he's sprinting through the halls.  He almost knocks down a few staff members. 

Liam finally makes it to Louis' room after what feels like an eternity.  Louis is sitting up in bed, eating a pudding cup.  Liam can't see any obvious injuries except for a bandage around Louis's foot.  Two police officers are in the room with him.

"Hi, Li!" Louis says excitedly.  "Whats the matter, babe, you look like shit."

Liam has to take a minute to steady himself.  He was convinced he would be identifying Louis' dead body.