The Love of a Stranger

The Pretty Lie and The Ugly Truth

I dreadingly woke up in the early hours of the next morning way before it was even near close to the time for Dan to get up. I carefully and quietly got changed and packed the last of my stuff for the flight back to the UK. It was easy to hide packing my stuff, for all Dan knew he thought I was packing to continue on to tour with them, but how wrong he was. I never knew that what he told me yesterday would have such an impact on me even though I didn't want it to. I knew how upset Dan would be waking up alone so I spent all of last night writing a letter explaing why. I gently placed it on the side desk and grabbed the handle of my suitcase ready to leave. Hesitation got the better of me, I took deep breath turning around and watching Dan peacefully sleep knowing that this may be the last time I would ever see him. Knowing that he was a deep sleeper I kissed the side of his head and whispered;

"Goodbye Dan, I'll miss you."

And with that being said, I left before I regretted my decisions. Tears spilled from my eyes and rolled down my face letting out a slight whimper, thank god there was no-one up this early. I took a brief moment in the lift to compose myself before I entered the lobby. After trying my best the doors opened, I left my key at the empty receptionist desk and called for a taxi.

It didn't take long for me to find and board the next flight to London sitting beside the window next to a random stranger who seemed to be a businessman. Hours into the flight, there wasn't one minute that went past that I wasn't thinking about Dan. By now he should be awake. I couldn't even bring myself to imagine his reaction.

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*Dans POV*

My eyes fluttered open as the bright sun shone through the window. I stretched out my arms and legs waking myself up, but something felt wrong, I was never able to stretch without hitting Laura. I looked to my right to see an empty space beside me. I pondered about the whereabouts of Laura, was she in the shower? But I didn't hear the water or her singing, she always sings in the shower. I noticed how there was only one suitcase in the room, mine. Panic started to build up inside me and that's when I noticed the note on the side desk. It was addressed to me so I opened it. It was rather long letter, covered both sides of the paper.

Dear Dan,

By the time you've read this I'll be half way across the ocean. About what you said yesterday, you were right; the truth always has to be hidden, but this one is certainly not one to be optimistic about. Everything I've told you about me is a lie (except the tragicness of it). For the majority of my life I've lied for my protection and for others. However, there is some truth in my story believe it or not, I did leave home when I was 16 but I was never kicked out, I ran away. I never drank for fun, I drank out of stress, my mum was uptight but also abusive and I do have a lung disease. I lie to make myself feel better Dan, but like you, I struggled. Now I just want you to know the truth, the real truth.

Ever since I was a baby I've drove my mum insane, endless amounts of crying, tantrums and screaming. She just got so fed up with it all that the only way to shut me up was to hit me making me scared to even make another peep. My dad was completely oblivious and didn't know anything about it and my mum threatened me many times that if I was to blab a word about it, she would make my life a living hell. And she did. She would blackmail me into doing anything she wanted and I had to do it, up until the point where I ran away. My brother and dad believed that I was kicked out and it's probably better for them to believe that. So I ran away not knowing where to go. I spent days and nights out on the streets where I would beg for other peoples money which I hated because it was a waste of time. No one was generous enough to donate and anyone that did, I would spend it on alcohol to relieve my stress making me an addict. I spent God-knows-how-long on the streets as an alcoholic until a lovely old lady named Rona took me in, giving me a home, food, water and other neccesities. We got on well exchanging stories, she was just a lonely old women looking for some company and I felt sorry for her as she did for me. But unfortunately she died later that year, I was so grateful for her. She had left me her home but for me to keep it, I had to work which didn't exactly go to plan when I found out that the woman I worked for, the woman I hoped never to meet again, was my mum. I couldn't deal with her as she deliberately gave me minimal wages - and the occasional beatings - even though I worked overtime which was not enough for me to live on my own, buy food and pay bills. That's when you came along. You, my dear Daniel, had made my life so much easier, helped me, gave me home, supported me and I'm forever in your debt for doing that. I lied only to protect you from my mum thinking that that would be enough. But now that I've grown to love you I can't deal with the guilt and keep on lying. So, this my explanation. You're the only one who knows this, and now that you know I'm scared that my mum will come looking. Never underestimate my mum, she has a lot of power and connections and is surprisingly strong, but I'm hoping - for your sake - you'll never have to come across her.

I'm just hoping that you'll understand and know that if you love me, you would stay away from me, for your own protection. Continue on with Bastille, tour the world, live the dream, make loads of money, I hope life treats you well for you are a wonderful man and I am a terrible woman. It pains me that this is the only outcome that I have been brought to. I'll never forget you, I love you Daniel Smith and I always will.

Laura.

My eyes burned in their sockets. What did I just read? I re-read it a few times just to understand what the fuck was going on.

Why now Laura? Why now when things were finally starting to look up?

I curled up into a ball on my bed and started crying, never in my life have I cried this much.

A/n: I don't know, have I ruined it? Yep I've ruined it... I'd love to hear some feedback because I know this was a sudden and drastic change but it was just to liven things up a bit, so tell me what you think. And thanks for the 3.1K reads holy shit that is unbelievable!