Don't Let Me Go (Larry Stylinson)

7

Sunday.

Harry was curled up on his bed. His stomach hurt. Not only from lack of food and water, but from the punches his Dad threw at him last night.

He was drunk, again, and wanted to take his anger out, and Harry got that anger.

His Dad had always been violent, especially after he'd been drinking, but he was getting worse, and Harry grew more and more scared of him.

He heard the click of the lock and the door opening. More bread was thrown onto the floor with another bottle of water. 'At least he's feeding me something.' Harry thought as he fell to the floor and ate the bread quickly.

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Louis hardly slept that night. His worry for Harry was growing by the hour.

He sat at the kitchen table, his spoon swirling around the bowl of soggy cereal he'd been staring at for the last half an hour.

"Louis? What's wrong?" His Mum, Jay, asked. She had noticed how quiet he'd been the last few days. "Talk to me." She sat opposite him.

Louis looked up at her, his eyes teary and sad. He put his spoon down.

"Louis love, what is it?"

"I'm worried about this boy."

"Which boy?"

"Harry. I'm scared. I don't know what to do Mum." A tear fell from his eye.

Jay got up and walked around the table, and sat next to Louis.  She took his hand. "Tell me why."

Louis took a deep breath. "He cut himself on Monday....I...I haven't seen him since.

"You mean cut as in...deliberately?"

Louis nodded as more tears fell. "I don't have his phone number or address. I'm so worried about him."

Jay pulled him into a hug as Louis started sobbing.

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Monday.

*Bang Bang Bang*

The door unlocked and was thrown open. Harry jumped up, scared.

"GET UP YOU LAZY FUCK! GET TO SCHOOL! IF YOU DON'T GO AGAIN....YOU'LL REGRET IT!"

Harry shook under his covers as his Dad went back to bed.

He got up, relieved that his door was open. He ran to the bathroom, using the toilet for the first time since Friday morning.

He took his jumper and boxers off and got in the shower. It felt so good, even though there was no hot water. He stayed under for five minutes, before it got too cold for him.

He filled a cup with water and drank it quickly, repeating the task a few times til his thirst was quenched.

He brushed his teeth. That felt wonderful, and went back to his room.

He picked up his school clothes, which had thankfully dried out, but they smelt of sweat and damp, he had to wear them though, it was the only uniform he had.

He emptied his piss bucket down the toilet and cleaned it the best he could, before putting it back in his room.

The room stank of piss, he couldn't let any air in, as his Dad had made it so the window would only open a  couple of inches, not enough to air the room. He had got used to the smell, even though he hated it and it gave him a headache.