Moments

Chapter 16

Harry's POV:

I parked in the all too familiar hospital parking lot and stepped out of the car, shoving my keys into my pocket. I heard another car and turned to find that it was Louis' car coming to a screeching halt behind me. I turned back around and continued to make my way to the front doors of the hospital. 

"Harry!" Louis called from behind me, him and Zayn sprinting to catch up to me.

"Don't try to talk me out of it, Lou,"

"I can't talk to you out of anything if I don't know what the hell you're doing!" Louis replied.

"I'm taking her home," I replied as my two friends followed me inside the elevator.

"Taking her home?" Zayn asked. "Doesn't she need to be here?"

I looked to my friend and shook my head.  "No, she doesn't.  They've already said that there is nothing they can do for her, she doesn't need to die in a hospital."

Louis reached out to rest his hand on my shoulder.  "Hazza..didn't she ask you to keep away?"

I shrugged his hand off and turned to look at him. "What am I supposed to do, just walk away like she's already dead?  What about you, Lou?  What if it was Eleanor?"

Louis was dumbfounded, unable to find the words to say. 

"Exactly," I spat as the elevator doors opened to the 3rd floor and I rushed down the hallway. 

I rounded the corner to her room, leaving Louis and Zayn in the hallway.  Sierra laid on her side, her back toward the door and her mom sat next to her, holding her hand.

"Harry," Diane spoke softly, lifting her head to look at me. I simply gave her a nod, forcing a half smile.  She planted a kiss on her daughter's hand and stood up, moving towards me.  "She's asleep,"

"Oh," I swallowed. 

"I'm glad you came back," she crossed her arms over her chest.  "I know that deep down she wants you here with her, Harry,"

"I have to be with her," I nodded, tears threatening my eyes once more. "I need to be with her."

"I know, love," Diane reached up to pat my cheek as tears fell from her eyes.  "It's just hard for her...she knows how much you love her and hates that she is leaving you behind."

"Mum," I took a jagged breath, looking into the older woman's eyes.  "I'd like to take her home with me."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want her to die in a hospital bed," I explained.  "She needs to be at home, the home that we share."

Diane nodded as more tears fell from her face.  "I think you're right.  She shouldn't be here."

Before any more could be said, I noticed Sierra begin to stir and roll back over onto her back.  "Mum?" she whispered groggily.

"I'm here sweetie," Diane replied.

Sierra's eyes adjusted to the light in the room just enough to notice me standing there with her mother.  "Harry?"

"Yes, baby, it's me," I moved past Diane and moved to sit on the edge of Sierra's bed, taking her hand in mine.  Diane took it as her cue and left the room.

"Harold, why are you here?" she asked with tears building in her eyes. "Please...I'm begging you to go.  Don't do this to yourself,"

"Listen to me," I grasped her hand tightly in mine and knelt down beside the bed.  "I'm not going anywhere.  I tried...I tried to do as you asked, but I can't do it."