FOREVER [Niall Horan] ✔

Chapter 1.

"Breathing is hard. When you cry so much, it makes you realise that breathing is hard." -Love is the Higher Law by David Levitham

Ana's POV

I wipe my tears with the back of my hand and stride towards my closet in a hurried motion. I search through it, finding a big, brown duffel bag before throwing a few pairs of clothes, toiletries and my medicines, not caring about the order just yet.

It's a huge step, but I'm left with no other option. I don't know about the future, but I'm sure as hell, this is the best I can do now, even though I'm scared shitless. I am scared because I don't know how we'll end up and I'm scared because I don't know what kind of future I'll be able to give my baby, but I do know that we are better off without him.

I surely should have done it sooner, but better late than never.

I wish my life could have been simple and sober like normal people. I just wanted a nice boyfriend who'll love me as much I as do and I just wanted a simple and elegant wedding. But Alas! Life's not always simple. It throws the obstacles our way, it makes us desperate and vulnerable, so much that we cannot fend for ourselves, we need someone to come and save us, but what happens when the person you thought you loved, your knight in shining armour, is the one who's trying to make you miserable? You are left with nothing, but vulnerability, melancholy and heartache.

I sniffle and shake my thoughts away as I walk towards my small makeshift library and pick out a few of my favourite novels along with some of my old paintings, which I love. I carry them to my bag, stuffing it inside so that I can properly zip it up.

My throat suddenly dries up and my head spins when I comprehend what I'm about to do is real. I'm feeling very timid and antsy about my actions and my legs start shaking. I grab ahold of my bedpost to stop myself from collapsing on the ground and take a few deep breaths until I calm down. God! I just wish it all works out.

I steady myself and take small steps towards the stairs. I hold the railing of the stairs as I walk down to the kitchen. I sit on the kitchen island and pour myself a glass of water and chug it down at once as I stare at my surroundings and discern how this is my last day where I've spent my nineteen years of life.

I mindlessly think about our family dinner every night, my school days, the first time I learned to ride a bike, our slumber parties in the living room, the first time I went to prom with Andy, my little brother Nathan, who I love more than myself. The first time Tyler came to ask my dad for permission to take me on a date. How I'll miss those days, the days where I was happy and normal and... really satisfied.

I keep my glass down and walk towards my room until I hear footsteps approaching me. I freeze in my place when I see my dad walking towards me.

"What are you doing here?" He raises his eyebrows at me and I feel my throat clog up.

"I was thirsty," I stutter.

"Annie, tomorrow is a big day for you. You need to rest," He speaks and I subtly nod. He engulfs me in a hug and pats my back before parting away and keeping me at arm's length. "I love you. Goodnight." He kisses my forehead.

"I love you, too," I mumble as I try not to break down in front of him. I kiss his cheeks before scrambling to my room and slamming the door in anger, frustration and guilt.

I hate to do this, to lie to my parents and I wish I could tell them the truth, but I'm just a cowardly person who's running from her problems instead of finding a solution. After several minutes, I tiptoe to my parents' room with glossy eyes and drop down on my knees to keep the letter on the wooden tile flooring that said,

Mom, Dad
I'll be happier.
Your Annie.

I lightly sniffle as I stand back on my heels and walk to my brother's room. He's properly tucked inside his Avengers' blanket and is peacefully sleeping. I twist the knob carefully, making sure that it doesn't make any noise, before strolling inside. I smooth his hair down and kiss his forehead. "I'll miss you, Nate," I mumble before walking out of his room.

"We'll be okay, baby," I whisper to my baby as I caress my belly.

I walk back to my room and change into a pair of black jeans and a casual T-shirt, matching it with my red Converse. A long puff of air leaves my mouth as I carry my bag downstairs. I pick up my car keys from the key rack and tiptoe to the door before exiting it. I open the door to the driver's seat and sit in, keeping my bag in the shotgun, and put the location on the GPS before driving away.

I don't even know how, but I pull up in front of the church I would have gotten married in and suddenly feel my eyes welling up. I rest my head against the steering wheel as I silently cry. I feel a pang of guilt in my heart as I think about my mom and dad. It was so selfish of me to run away from my problems and my mistakes and leave them to go through it alone. How shameful it must be for them when everyone will come to know about my escaping.

I remember my dad's wrath when he came to know about the pregnancy a week ago.

"What?" My dad's jaw hits the floor. I can hear the rage in his voice as he takes a step closer to him and throws a punch in his face. He stumbles backwards, holding his face in his palm.

I cup my hands over my mouth as I see the scene unfold in front of me and tears start to flow down my cheeks. My vision becomes blurry because of the constant rain of tears precipitating my eyes. I whimper and try to walk towards him, but stop in my tracks when my dad sends me a glare, my mom holding my dad to stop him from hurting him anymore.

He gets up from where he is lying on the floor and takes a step towards me.

"Don't," My dad barks, trying to get out of my mom's hold, barely managing.

"I'm sorry, Mr Kohl," He breathes, looking at them as he continues to walk towards me. "I didn't mean to disrespect you or Mrs Kohl." He comes and stands right in front of me, "Marry me?"

I start the engine of the car when my sobs subside. After driving for almost an hour, I feel myself getting tired and my eyes start to droop, but I don't stop with the fear of him finding me, even though I know he cannot right now.

After driving for another hour, I pull up in a motel that I see on the highway called Roger's. I turn the engine off, get out of my car and walk towards the receptionist. I bite my lip when I see the surroundings. The corner of the walls are covered with spider webs and the cream paint is peeling off of them. There is a small, torn and dirty couch in the lobby along with a flickering lamp and nothing else. The motel looks so dirty that I almost quit the idea of staying, but I have nowhere else to go.

I am greeted by an old, bald man sitting behind the table. He smiles at me as I approach him but I don't return one.

"Um-Can I get a room, please?" I stutter as I ask.

"I'm sorry, we're out of rooms, madam." He apologetically smiles.

Can anything else go wrong!

"Are you sure? Isn't there a single room I can stay in?" I plea, for this, is my last resort or else I'll have to sleep in my car.

"The last room has just been occupied. I'm sure we are left with no rooms."

"Oh. Okay." I reply and turn around only to collide with something or rather someone. I internally groan and mumble a quick sorry before walking towards my car.

Hope you like it so far, don't forget to vote, you all.