Ziall - Fix you

Prologue

I stepped through the small, front door and onto the patio, my eyes wandering over everyone stood there, waiting to say goodbye. They all cared about me. They had tried to stop me going at first, but they saw it was what I really wanted. I wanted to go. I felt I had to do something to help. To change people’s lives.

My mum beckoned me over to her and I followed her motion standing emotionless in front of her, I couldn’t cry, not yet, but I couldn’t smile, not until they’d said something.

‘It’s ironic,’ she blubbered, ‘How I always cried when you left for work in London, and you’d laughing, telling me you weren’t leaving for war, just work…’

‘Mum, don’t-’

‘And now you really or leaving for war!’ tears fell faster down her face as she pulled me into her arms.

I wrapped my arms around her and let her lean on my chest, since I must be at least four inches taller than her. She moved back and held my arms, smiling at me, ‘You’re my brave soldier’

I nodded at her sadly, and moved on to the next group of people stood in our front garden, coming to wish me off; my sisters.

Safaa ran at me and gripped her arms around my waist, hugging me close, ‘I don’t want you to go, Zayn! I’ll miss you’

He bent down to her level, ‘I’m only going for a year, it’ll fly by. And I’ll write to you, as often as I can, yeah?’

Waliyha took my hand and squeezed it, then ran off to mum before she burst into tears, I could see them in her eyes.

Doniya stepped forwards, and brushed her jet black hair back. She reached out and pulled at my pants, evening them out. ‘Fight for us, yeah?’

I nodded, and she kissed my cheek lightly, before pushing me to the left of her to see the boys and their mums.

They all hugged me, gave me kisses, their goodbyes, things to take with me to remember me, all sorts.

‘You better come home, sexy’ Louis said, always the one to lighten the mood.

‘Yeah, don’t go getting your head blown off’ Harry added.

I laughed,’ Thanks guys, that motivation will certainly help’

They grinned and I gave Liam a hug, ‘You better write to us!’ he told me, pointing his finger into my chest.

Next was Niall.

‘Why do you have to go?’ he mumbled, putting his hands on my waist.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and put our foreheads against each other, ‘Because I love you, and you love me’

‘What’s that got to do with anything?’ he squeaked, tears welling in his eyes, a piece of his bleach blonde hair falling over his face, he mustn’t have bothered to gel it this morning.

‘Don’t cry…’ I brushed my lips against his, only for a couple of seconds, or I’d be longing for more of something I couldn’t have.

‘I love you…’ he whispered.

A yellow taxi pulled up outside the house, and it was time for me to go. I waved and everyone, my eyes lingering on Niall, and I started to walk towards to taxi, but someone stopped me, grabbing my arm. It was Niall.

‘Don’t forget me’ he whispered, and held my hat out to me.

I took it from him, and tucked it under my arm, dragging my suitcase along with the other. I looked down at my body quickly. Big, black army boots, my tight, camo trousers that were tucked in, held up with a thick brown belt. My top was a button up, the same design, with breast pockets on either side.

‘Don’t worry, you still look gorgeous’ Niall insisted with a small smile and shooed me towards the car.

The driver opened the door for me, and put my small suitcase in the boot, slamming it shut and getting back into his driver’s seat, starting the car.

I looked out the back, blackened window to see all my friends, family, even people from down our street had started to come out to wish him off. It was hard to make people out through the dark glass, but I saw them waved at the car. My eyes fell on Niall, and just as they did, it turned into slow motion. He collapsed onto his knees, his head lolling to the side and falling to the ground, and everyone crowded around him, and the car turned the corner.