Let Yourself Fall (Liam Payne)

Chapter 11 ~ Darcy

Chapter 11 ~ Darcy

For the first time in a really long time, I forgot about responsibilities and what I should do, all I cared about was how much fun I was having with Liam until reality came back with my little sister crying for the same reason I did many years ago. I don’t regret any of those moments where there were only Liam and I, it was nice to think only of me for a change. It was refreshing, it was nice, but it’s not the life I’ve chosen. I can’t believe it was so easy to forget that I was there with Lizzie, I guess I really trust Harry to take care of her and the fact that Liam was there making me company probably helped, as well.

I know he feels guilty that Lizzie is crying, but it’s not his fault. She needed this, she needed to see the truth by herself like I did. Yes, it breaks my heart to see her crying and with her heart broken, but she’s a strong little girl, she’ll only grow stronger out of this.

“Why do all these people like to see them, Darcy? Can’t they see how sad the animals are? Their eyes, Darcy, their eyes looked so sad!” Lizzie tells me between sobs, hugging me really tight. Harry and Liam are watching, concern written all over their faces and I know Harry is sad as well. “I thought it was just the giraffe at the beginning, maybe she was ill or something, but the monkeys had the same look, and the elephants and the lions. Every animal I went to see with Harry,” she trails off.

I wonder if Harry and Liam noticed the pain in the animals’ eyes before Lizzie and I told them about it. Maybe they always went with the flow, maybe they enjoyed the zoo before we mentioned this.

“I know, some people just see the animal outside, they don’t see their hearts as you do, Lizzie,” I tell her, hugging her tightly as well. “Don’t worry, we will never come back to a zoo. You won’t have to see them.”

“But there’ll still be zoos with trapped animals suffering, even if I can’t see them. Can’t we do something about it?” She asks and I shut my eyes tightly.

“I wish we could do something, Lizzie, but we can’t right now,” I tell her and my heart twists because I can’t do something to cease her pain.

“When I grow up, I’ll do something, Darcy. I promise. I’ll help all the animals,” she says, solemnly looking me in the eyes and I smile proudly.

“I know you will,” I tell her  as I stroke her wet cheeks and kissing her forehead.

“You’ll save a lot of animals and they will be so grateful,” Harry adds coming closer and stroking Lizzie’s hair in a very father-like way. She smiles at him, hope bringing back her sweet smile.

This is one of the reasons why I’m so proud of my little sister, because if she sees something is not right, she doesn’t stay there, just looking at it or passing by it. She does something, she wants to change it. She can’t be content with things like they are if she doesn’t think it’s right. I think she’s a warrior in that way.

“Now, what do you think if we go to see the boys and give Niall that giraffe you bought him?” Liam suggests and we all look at him. “Is that good with you, Lizzie?” This time he looks right into my sister’s eyes and she smiles widely.

Lizzie claps excited for seeing the other lads, her smile lovely again, though her eyes are still a bit red from all the tears she shed. She won’t forget the pain of this visit, but she’ll go on because she’s that strong. She learned something important today and I know she’ll do something about it in the future. It’s probably that she starts at school, talking to her classmates and teacher about how terrible zoos are.

Lizzie leaves my lap and takes Harry’s hand, I look at Liam with a grateful smile for helping to bring back the joy to my sister. He smiles back, but I still see concern in his eyes and I don’t like to see him sad in any way. I know it’s because he cares already, but I just don’t like that look on him. I like when he smiles the smile that reminds me of a puppy, an adorable puppy that would hurt nobody. I like when his eyes get smaller due to his smile, when his nose crinkles in that adorable way. I don’t like that shadow in his eyes when concern embraces him.