Waiting For You

Chapter 5

The summer after my 16th birthday, our relationship blossoms. Sometimes it's only Niall that comes to the hospital, but that's fine. We often simply talk to each other, about anything and everything. One of the topics, however, that we avoid the most is talk of the future- the future we don't have. It's so hard to let myself love him, knowing that I'll be leaving him soon. And even if I did get better- how do I really know that the second I'm cured he'll drop me? How can I be sure this isn't just some charity case?

~ ~ ~

After about a month, Niall decides to take me out- just me and him. He even brings me a nice dress and a beautiful hat to wear. After the nurse helps me get dressed, he settles me in my wheelchair and we get going. First we take a cab through the pouring rain to a nice restaurant. I spy several paparazzi outside snapping pictures of us. They're making me quite uncomfortable.

"Don't pay any attention to them." Niall finally says.

"Well I'm trying- but do they really have to stare?" I ask.

"Maybe they're staring because you're so beautiful." This remark makes me look down and blush.

"How could anyone think someone like me is beautiful?" Niall reaches across and takes my hand, his cerulean eyes turning a very serious face on me.

"I think you're beautiful, don't I?" he says very genuinely. I smile at him and squeeze his hand.

"That makes one of us." At this, he's the one that looks down.

"Allie, I hope someday you'll realize you don't need picturesque looks or even hair to be beautiful." he squeezes my hand, then leans across to kiss me. After that, our night continues as normal. But I still keep thinking about those stupid reporters.

A few days later, my mom has a copy of the local newspaper. She usually offered to let me see the paper, but today she was being strangely cryptic and wouldn't let me see. I finally wrestled it away from her. And the headline blaring out at me made my heart sink.

"Niall Horan- Charity Girl?" My eyes growing wide, I quickly open my laptop to research it. The headlines to other news stories are even worse. "Niall's New Service Project- Unveiled!" "Mystery Cancer Patient Seen With Niall Horan", and, perhaps the worst one, "Niall Horan of One Direction is Spotted with Bald Invalid". I don't even bother reading the articles- I just break down in tears. Is this really how the world sees me? As a charity case? Is that really all they see- no love, no genuine relationship? Just Niall and some bald cancer girl, his charity project? At that very moment, the boys all arrive, laughing over who cares what- certainly not me. Determined to not let them see me like this, I quickly shove the paper under my pillow and turn away from them, attempting to fake sleep. But it's too late- they've already seen me like this. Forcing down a sob, I swipe at my red eyes as Niall immediately envelopes me in his arms. I guess taking a hint, everyone else leaves.

"Allie- Allie, love, what's wrong? What happened?" his voice emanates love and worry- but can I believe it.

"I-it's nothing. Just a-a bit worn down, worked up. I g-guess everything is catching up to me." I try my best to stop crying, but it doesn't work and a sob escapes me. Finally, I wordlessly pull out the paper to show him. He silently looks it over, and then pulls me even closer, his face burying in my hair.

"Allie, my love, don't ever believe what those horrible people are saying. They have no idea how amazing you are. They don't know the love I feel for you. You're beautiful and perfect Allie. I'll never leave you, and I'll always love you. Even after the end." he does his best to reassure me. And, knowing I won't regret it. I finally accept that he truly loves me- that this is real. I turn into him, my eyes closing.

"Okay. I believe you. Please, don't ever leave me." I whisper through the tears.

"Never, Allie. Never." And there we sit, me in his arms, holding each other for the rest of the night. And, I feel safer then I have in a very long time.