"He said we could see him at eight and its eight thirty, why aren't they letting anyone see him?" Mum sighed in her seat because ever since the clock turned to the exact numbers 8:01, I've been complaining. Zayn texted me saying that the hospital is opening an hour early because its Christmas, but they haven't even announced anything yet!

"Harry," Mum says. I say, "What?" Without looking at her. I remain in my stance with my arms crossed, lip chewed on, and glaring at each nurse that passes or the clock. "Harry."

"What?" I raise my voice a bit in annoyance and turn my torso to face her. "Four months ago, you remember when you went Panda with Liam?" I nod my head. "Remember when Liam said that liked Niall just as he did Sophia?" I nod my head again, but slower. "Liam and Sophia broke up." I drop my arms and look at her like 'what the hell? I know.'

"Harry, I'm saying that with Nialls condition--" She stops when I give her a look I've never given anyone, and she sinks in her chair a little bit. "Why would you even think about saying that to me." It wasn't even a question, that was a new kind of low she's been trying to reach for a while. I know she's doing it out of her goodness, because i know she wants me to reach reality, but I don't.

I turn around and walk straight to the receptionist when a nurse turns the VISITORS light on. "Niall Horan." I say to her and chew on the inside of my cheek as I wait for her to look up the room. "Are you family?" I shake my head. She opens her mouth to say something, but ends up just staring at me. "Third floor, room 345. Its on the right side."

"Thank you."

-

I press myself against the wall to let a doctor buy that's pushing a cart, and then I take two steps to the room and see Niall laying there, pale skinned, purple lipped, brown skin under and around his eyes, and hair greasy and messy. "Hi," I step in, and Nialls eyes barely open up. "Hey." The corner of his lips twitch. "Hey," I drag the chair over to the head of his bed and sit down. "How are you feeling?" I ask. Last night or the night before, I'm not sure, Niall collapsed on his way to the kitchen and his Mum didn't find him until she walked downstairs. She was in the shower and didn't even hear his bowl and fork drop onto the wood.

"You look like you're in pain." I point out, staring at the purple and blue bruise on his arm. Niall tilts his head towards me and smirks with the power he has, and with half that power, he says, "You know what the best thing about pain is?" I wait for him to tell me. "It lets you know you're still alive."