Running After You

I was pretty sure Niall had gone to sleep. I was stick locked in the bathroom, clutching my phone. Zayn ha texted me to stay calm, and wait till I couldn't hear him anymore.

I opened the door a crack, and saw Niall wasn't asleep, but he was on his bed, tears streaming down his face, with something wooden in his hand. I opened it wider once I heard him let out a sob.
He looked up at me, and my heart broke on the spot. I put my phone on the table and walked to him in silence.

I sat next to him. I knew he was sober at this point. It was a picture of him and Naomi. The same picture that he got mad at me for touching that day.
I brought his head to my chest and cradled it, comforting him. He let out another sob, and wrapped his arms around me loosely.
"Shh," I whispered. "It's alright."

I could feel his tears drenching my shirt, but I knew it didn't matter. He needed to let all the bottled up feelings out, and I was going to be there for him.

▪▪▪▪▪▪

Niall had fallen asleep on me, his hand almost dropping the picture if him and Naomi. I got it before it did. Niall's face were stained with dried tears. The bags under his eyes were worse than ever. His hair was ruffled, and it looked browner than usual, indicating he needed another dye set soon.

I watched him as he slept, just wondering what he'd been going through the past couple years. I could see his eyes moving under the lids; he was dreaming.
He was frowning in his sleep, and mumbled something.
I forgot that he talked in his sleep.

I kissed his forehead, lightly tucking a pillow where my arm was so he didn't notice I had slippe out from under him.

Notes