A Thousand City Lights ➳ l.s

chapter ➳ 5

Song: The City - Ed Sheeran

When the two boys got back to their hotel room, it was difficult for them to sleep. The street lights and the view of Big Ben staring them down through their window kept them up for hours. But in that time span, they distracted themselves with a game of 20 questions.

Harry lay in his bed across from Louis', both laying on their sides facing each other. It's Harry's turn to ask a question, and quiet frankly, Louis' a little nervous. "Question 16: What's your biggest fear?" he asks, his eyes wide and curious.

Louis' lips form a straight line as he taps his knuckles on the wooden bed frame. "I don't know. . .I don't think I have any. . ." he answers truthfully.

Harry rolls his eyes. "Everyone has a fear. Big or small."

Louis shrugs. "Do you have any fears?" At this, Harry shakes his head and points a finger at Louis.

"Nuh-uh. You have to answer my question first. We're playing by the rules here, love."

Louis sighs and moves so he's laying on his back, facing the ceiling. He folds his hands on top of his chest and tries hard to find an answer. But the answer doesn't come to his mind right away. He's not sure what he's afraid of, really. He knows what he isn't afraid of. And then it hits him, and with one word, he answers question 16.

"Dying." he says, "I'm afraid of dying."

Harry stays silent for a moment, then that moment turns to a few minutes. Louis thinks he might have made things uncomfortable for him, so he turns his head to see if Harry has turned onto his other side and went to sleep. But instead he finds him in the same position as him and smiling like he knows the world's greatest secret.

"You shouldn't be afraid to die, Lou." Harry finally speaks.

"But I am. I love life. I never want to leave." says Louis, and he turns back to looking at the ceiling. He notices how incredibly clean and white it is. With a fancy hotel like this, he's not surprised if they cleaned the ceiling as well.

"Life is just a vacation from death." Harry says, "But who knows, you might like it. Have you ever been dead?"

Louis ignores the fact that Harry had asked another question when it's his turn. "No."

In that moment, with the room dark but highlighted with the city lights and the aroma of the sweet London air, it's the small whispers that are exchanged in the late of the night that makes you think just a little too much, but worry a little less.

"Exactly." Harry whispers.

➳

The next morning their bags are packed and they're ready to hit the road again by 6:30.

Louis stands by the large window with the great view, a frown painted on his face. His arms are crossed and he tries to take many mental pictures as he can.

"You've been standing like that for fifteen minutes, Lou." Harry says from the door. He's checking the suitcases and his pockets, making sure that everything is there and in order.

"Do we have to leave?" Louis says. He turns around with his bottom lip pointed outward in a pout.

Harry sighs and walks over to Louis putting a hand on his shoulder before kissing his left temple. "I'm afraid so. We have a lot to see."

Louis' lips form a straight line and he begins to look out the window before nodding his head. "Yeah, okay." he says softly.

Harry gives one last squeeze to his shoulder and a kiss to his head. He goes over to their belongings and flicks his head toward the door. "On with it, then."