Chapter 26
*Niall’s P.O.V*
Elle’s dad walked out of the room, heartbreak evident in his expression as he half carried his distraught wife, gently placing her in the seat beside me. I feel a hand grab mine.
“How could he do this to my baby?” Her accent was thick and almost impossible to understand. I squeezed her hand, not knowing what to say but wanting her to know that I was thinking of everything. I still don’t know all the pieces of the story so I can’t explain anything to her.
“You can go in son,” Elle’s dad says quietly as he places a hand on my shoulder. I shake my head, not wanting to see my princess led in a hospital bed but also knowing that I had to wait for Effy to come back. Kate has fallen asleep in Harry’s arms.
“Effy wants to come in with me so I’ll wait until she’s back.” He nods and sits beside his wife, putting an arm around her. Effy slowly walks around the corner, tears running down both her cheeks. When she sees her parents she smiles slightly, although it was obvious it was forced.
“Are you going in now Ni?” She asks quietly, I nod in reply and stand, she slips her hand into mine and together we walk to the door, as I reach for the handle, I hesitate, not wanting her little sister to see her like this but I know I can’t deny anything. I feel an increase in pressure on my hand and glance down to see Effy looking up at me encouragingly, slowly I turn the handle and we enter, a gasp comes from beside me and I glance down to see Effy with a fresh wave of tears falling down her cheeks. I let go of her hand and pull her to my side, engulfing her in a hug to try and comfort her, even though I was breaking at the sight of my beautiful girlfriend lying pale and lifeless in a hospital bed, the cuts to her face and head evident even from this distance. The only sound in the room was the steady beating of the heart monitor and Effy’s whimpers, which slowly died down as I starting running my hand up and down her back, until the whimpers came to a stop and she slowly pulls away from me before stepping closer to her sister. I stay back, allowing her some time, watching as she sits in the chair closest to Elle and gripping her hand carefully, avoiding all the wires.
“Elle, it’s me Effy. I don’t know if you can hear me but you’ve got to wake up! I need you, we all need you. Caden’s back and he’s promised he’s going to be there for us from now on, but I need you here with me helping me through everything. Who else am I going to fan girl with over One Direction?” I manage to hold in a chuckle at that comment. “I mean, you can’t really fan girl now but still, I know you still will when Ni’s not around. Speaking of Ni, he’s in pieces. He really needs you here with him sis. He actually had a breakdown and got into a scrap with Harry, we’re all so desperate for you to wake up! I love you sis! So, so much.” She wipes away her tears with her free hand before slowly standing and placing a kiss on her elder sister’s forehead and running out of the room, allowing the sobs to return. I sigh and take a seat next to my princess and repeat Effy’s process of taking her hand carefully.
“Hello princess. I don’t think you can hear me but I hope you can. We’re all in bits here. Everyone’s here to see you, waiting for the slightest bit of news. Your mum, dad, Allie, Caden, Effy, Kate, Jas, Kels, El, Harry, Zayn, Louis, Liam and me, even Greg’s here. We all need you to wake up. It’s not the same without you. The doctors don’t think you’re going to….” I couldn’t finish the sentence as the lump in my throat just led to me breaking down in tears. Knowing I’m the only one in the room other than Elle means that I can let the tears fall freely, it’s a good few minutes before I can compose myself enough to finish my sentence. “…m-make i-it.” My voice wavered at the fresh thought of being without the most important person in my life.
“But I know you will wake up. You’re the strongest person I know, and after all this is over, I promise you everything is going to get better. We all need you, you would be so proud of Effy right now. She’s been so strong, especially for Kate! Hell she’s even been strong for me after I had my breakdown. She’s so much like you it’s unbelievable! I can’t lose you baby, I need you in my life. I’ve been worried sick ever since I found out you’d gone, I’ve hardly eaten or slept, all I’ve been doing is trying to find ways to help get you back. Greg and I even came here to look for you and that’s when Allie found you. She’s blaming herself, hell we all are! I should have made you stay with me in Spain, none of this would have happened then! I love you so much princess! You still look so beautiful even lying in this bed. I just wish I could see your beautiful baby blue eyes and hear your angelic laugh and be able to hold you close while we watch cheesy films all night. I need you to wake up princess, please.” I cant hold back anymore and break down, never once removing my hand from hers.
