You're My Only Direction

Chapter Eleven

Harry’s POV

            I woke up in the middle of the night in the hotel room with Louis’ lightly snoring form next to me. I grinned as I watched him sleeping with his mouth hanging wide open and drool slowly dripping onto his pillow. I ran my hand through his hair gently and he smiled in his sleep. My heart skipped a beat watching his slight grin at my touch.

            “Mmm… Haz…” He gurgled in his sleep.

            I leaned forward and gently kissed his temple. Throwing my legs over the side of the bed, I rubbed my eyes and stretched my limbs. I glanced at the digital clock on the bedside table. 3:24 am… I slumped into the bathroom in my still half asleep state and looked in the mirror after turning on the sink.

            Looking into the reflective glass I examined the face peering back at me. I’ll admit that he’s looked better… the skin was pale and the green eyes exhausted, dull, lifeless, the darks circles underneath looked like they would swallow up his entire face.  He ran a hand through his hair in exasperation and when he pulled it back out his hand was full of hair. The boy grasped both sides of the sink firmly and hunched over in frustration. Ugh, why can’t this just all go away? I’m sick of this.

            Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. Keep it together, you can’t lose it right now, you’ve finally told Louis how you feel. And he feels the same way! You have something to hold on for now! He loves you…  

            And I love him. And I can’t hurt him by letting this defeat me. I looked back up into the mirror. The reflection I saw this time wasn’t as weak as earlier. There was a glint of courage and defiance in the boy’s green eyes this time. He smirked at me and gave me an encouraging thumbs up and a cheeky wink.

            “You can do this…” he whispered to me.

            “I know,” I replied nodding along with the boy in the mirror. He smiled at me and I felt myself smiling as well.

            “You’re strong enough,” he whispered but I couldn’t see his lips moving. I whirled around to see Louis standing in the open bathroom door. It took me a few moments to realize that it was Louis who had spoken.

            “I-I…” I stuttered.

            “Your reflection isn’t the only one who believes in you,” Louis grinned with a chuckle, watching me in the mirror. His eyes always displayed exactly what he was feeling and I could see how much he loved me and believed in me.

            “Thank you,” I whispered as I ran into his arms. I couldn’t bring myself to admit it but it gave me so much hope to hear him say that he believed in me.  

            “Any time, Haz,” he murmured into my curls. “I mean that, any time you need anything, just tell me. I’d do anything for you, for all eternity I am yours.  If it would make you happy, if it would keep you here with me, where you belong, then I’ll do it. I believe in you, and I always will.”

            “Don’t let go,” I whispered against his chest as a few tears escaped from my eyes.

            “Never,” he whispered back, gently caressing my hair. “Nothing can hurt you when you’re with me, I won’t let it.”

            “I know,” I sighed against him.

            He pulled away from me, grabbing my shoulders and looking into my eyes seriously. “I don’t think you really do, I think you’re just saying that for my benefit.”