Let's Pretend (Harry Styles Fanfic)

Chapter Fourteen

(Harry’s P.O.V.)

“Harry, I’m scared,” she whispered, taking my hand as we reached the door. I smiled at her.

“Don’t be afraid. Everything will be okay.”

“How do you know?” she asked defensively. I shrugged.

“I don’t know, I just do.”

“But what if I go in there and he’s…”

“He’s what? Happy to see us?” I asked. She shook her head and set her sights on the doorknob.

“You’re right. Let’s go,” she said. She slipped her fingers out of mine and walked into the room. I wished she hadn’t let go of my hand, but I followed her inside.

“Erin! Harry!”

“Hi Thomas!” we said happily together. He tried to sit up, but his face paled immediately and he collapsed back on the pillow.

“Oh no, don’t move, we’ll come to you,” Erin said quickly. We both went to opposite sides of his bed and a small smile appeared on his face. He grabbed Erin’s hands with his tiny fingers and she beamed at him with more happiness than I had seen on her face for three days.

“How are you guys?” Thomas asked in a weak voice that made my heart hurt.

“We’re great. I’m sorry we haven’t been here for two weeks, but we’ve been busy,” I told him. He shook his head.

“I don’t mind. I’m just glad you’re here now. How was the ball?” he asked. We both froze up.

“Fine.”

“Pleasant.”

Thomas rolled his eyes. “Sounds pleasantly nice. My nurse Mandy is really pretty,” Thomas said, some more color returning to his face. Erin giggled and I nodded.

“Nice, Thomas. Getting the babes already.”

“Looks like he’s following in your footsteps and going for the older women,” Erin said, grinning at me. I glared at her and she started laughing happily, and her laugh was so cute I let it slide.

“So Thomas how have you been?” I asked. He took a breath.

“They keep saying I don’t have a lot of time left.  I didn’t know what they meant at first, but I do now. And I’m scared. But I’m happy, because everyone has been visiting more these days. But I know why they’re visiting. They’re visiting because they know they won’t be able to soon.”

Erin’s eyes were full of tears at this point. I knew this was hard for her, and it was hard for me too. But I couldn’t think about myself right now because I needed to be thinking about the nine-year-old boy who was dying before my eyes. That’s who needed my thoughts.