✔️STRONG [L.S]

[25]

{NIALL'S POV}

   *December 3rd 2014*

   "Maura!" Jay exclaimed as my mum ushered them inside from the cold. Jay and Mark had come to stay for their monthly visit to Louis. My mum pulled them both into a hug, taking their coats from them.

   "How are you darlin'?" She asked, hanging the coat's up near the door. The both of them smiled weakly.

   "We're doing better I suppose. We just want our Louis to come home." My mum smiled sadly, leading them to the couch where I was sitting. A fire was crackling in the fireplace, providing warmth and comfort seeing the snow outside. Then, she grabbed their suitcase's, and began to carry them down the hall.

   "Maura we can get those!" Mark called, standing up.

   "Nonsense!" She called back, not turning around. With a sigh, he sat back down, Jay leaning into him.

   "Persistent your mum is ain't she?" He chuckled weakly, looking at me. I grinned.

   "Ya know it." Just as he opened his mouth to speak, my dad walked into the room.

   "Mark! Jay! How are you?" I tuned out as my dad made small talk with the both of them, pulling my phone from my pocket as I felt it buzz.

   From: Payno
Hey mate how's the knee holding up?

   I grinned. Liam and Zayn sent me message's like this frequently.

   To: Payno
Gonna be honest man, I'm in a bit of Payne haha ;)

   From: Payno
ur an idiot

   To: Payno
c'mon you love it

   From: Payno
ur lucky ur Irish

   From: Payno
dammit ignore the pun

   To: Payno
lmfao what's with the language daddy direction?

   From: Payno
-_-

   I chuckled quietly to myself, slipping my phone back into my pocket. I grabbed my crutches, and pulled myself up from my spot on the couch. After my knee surgery last year, and a few month's of crutches, the doctors had cleared me, saying I was good. But a few month's after Louis and Harry were sent away, problem's with my knee started to arise again.

   *FLASHBACK*
*August 23rd, 2014*

   "Niall! Dinner's ready!"

   "Coming mum!" I slowly stood up from the couch, being wary of my knee. For the past few day's it had been hurting, and it was honestly beginning to scare me. The doctor's had said it shouldn't give me any more problem's. I walked carefully and slowly into the kitchen. My mum watched me worriedly as I leaned against the door frame.

   "Is yer knee still bothering ya?" I groaned, nodding.

   "Niall I think you should go get it checked out." She said as I slowly made my way to the table. My dad looked up from the newspaper he was reading, the same worried expression on his face. As my hand reached out for a chair, I accidentally shifted my body, putting all the weight on my bad knee. Sharp pain shot up my leg, and I cried out, collapsing to the ground.

"NIALL!" My mum yelled, kneeling next to me. My eye's were screwed shut, my face scrunched up in pain.

   "That's it! You're going to the hospital!" I didn't protest, too focused on the searing pain in my knee.

   "Bobby call an ambulance!" I heard my mum order.

*END OF FLASHBACK*

   Just as my crutches were settled under my arm's, a knock came from the door.

   "I got it!" I said, making my way over to it rather quickly.

   "Be careful Niall." My dad warned, watching me carefully. I rolled my eye's.

   "Dad I'm fine. I'm a grown man. I can take care of me self." I said as I opened the door. My mouth dropped at who was standing there.

   "Hello Niall. How are you?"

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BECAUSE ANY WORLD WHERE I DON'T LOVE YOU IS A WORLD THAT DOESN'T EXIST.