Somehow the lovely sunshine and cool coast breeze had turned into a bitter wind within minutes. Aware that you needed to get off the beach before the storm hit, you pulled on your beige raincoat and started trudging back to the hotel you were staying at with your boyfriend and his family. Even though it was supposed to be a family trip, and you insisted they go without you, everyone claimed they counted you as family too.
The grey clouds above your head started to look more and more ominous as you continued on. Just a while from the road that lead to the hotel, the storm hit. Even through your hood you could feel the fat raindrops landing on your shoulders. Suddenly lightning cracked in the open space above the sea and thunder rumbled afterwards. The rain started to develop into small sharp pellets; hail. Fog started to move in, enveloping your body until you couldn't even see the ground. It wasn't safe to walk in this. You could be walking out into the sea and you wouldn't even know it.
You tried to find your bearings, but struggled. You walked on. After a few more cold moments you walked straight into, what seemed to be, a shelter. Edging your way around it you find a little overhang of a metal roof. Deciding to wait out the storm, you wrap yourself in your arms and tell yourself the storm will only go on a little longer. You want Tom next to you, to hold you close and tell you it'll be alright, to kiss your forehead and whisper in your hair, to love you and make you feel safe. Thinking of Tom, you slowing drift asleep, despite your surroundings.
Creaking. A loud crash. Rumbling. More hail. Then the pain. Darkness. You see stars, but you know they're not real. You lapse in and out of consciousness and when you try to move arrows of pain shoot up your body, and fill your head so you can't even think. You lose track of any sense of time.
Suddenly, you feel movement from above you. You try to speak, but only croaks leave your mouth. You hear noise, and you recognize Tessa's barking within seconds. It becomes more and more frantic, then you hear a male voice. The pressure on your legs and torso starts to decrease, and Harrison's voice becomes as desperate as Tessa's.
"TOM! I FOUND HER! SHE'S HERE! HELP! TOM! TOM! TOM! HELP!"
You slowly open your eyes only to be blinded by bright lights and to hear Harry yell 'Her eyes are open!' You feel the weight on you give way completely and callused hands pull you gently from the rubble. You would recognize that tenderness in his touch anywhere; Tom.
His warmth wraps around your freezing body, and you feel safe. His strong arms are slung around you, and he's cradling you like a baby. Salty water pools on your face, and you think that it's more rain, but you remember that rain isn't salty. Tom's tears start to flow more freely and you wish you could comfort him. You can't bear to see him hurt. You attempt to say something, and he notices that you are struggling.
"Save your strength, Darling. Don't move, I've got you. I've always got you. I'm here, Sweetheart. I want you to be okay. I need you to be okay. If you're not..." His voice starts to break, and choking sobs escape his throat, "None of that matters, just look at me. I love you, Darling. I love you,"
He continues on, but you struggle to make out his words. You feel yourself fading and your eyes start to flutter close. The tone of his beautiful voice becomes frantic and desperate again. You fight with every bit of strength you have left to keep your eyes open, to keep staring into those perfect chocolate eyes, but your efforts fail. You feel the darkness come back to claim you with Tom by your side, so close, yet in two different worlds.
Your hand is pressed up against warm skin. You try to swallow, but your throat is too dry. You start to stir, but you feel restrained. You start to peek through your eyes and to your dismay tubes are sticking out of your wrists. Your mouth and nose are covering in a clear material with another tube leading out of it. You realize that Tom is sitting next to you. When you look at the expression that is painted on his loving face, you feel as if someone had punched you in the gut. His locks of hair fell into his eyes, but he didn't make a move to push them away. The bags under his eyes look like someone had smeared eyeliner all over, but he didn't care. He was squeezing your hand repeating something you couldn't quite make out. As you strain to listen, you understood.
"I won't leave you, I won't leave you, I won't leave you." He started to break down. "Just promise me that you won't leave me. Please,"
The hurt and betrayal that coated his voice was killing you. He still wasn't looking up, if only he would, he would see your eyes open. As if your thought had been spoken out loud, Harrison tapped Tom's shoulder and simply pointed to you. He looked up and his eyes lit up. He was practically glowing. He pressed a dozen kisses all over your forehead and removed the mask so he could kiss your lips, and seemed too stunned to talk. He hugged you from the side of the hospital bed, both of you crying all over each other, but neither of you caring because he was in your arms and you were in his.
You can't remember how long you two stayed cuddled together, but you remember waking up with him next to you, and you knew that no matter what you would never leave his side, and he would never leave yours.
