Chapter 21 ~ Darcy

I don’t know what’s happening, one moment Liam is on stage, making thousands of girls happy and the next he’s stumbling as he is making his way towards me, barely staying on his feet. I don’t know what’s wrong with him but he’s so pale and his eyes are bloodshot and I’m so scared. I think my heart stopped beating the moment he closed his eyes and seemed to faint and when he actually fainted, the whole world stopped and panic ran in my veins.

“Liam!” I scream but there’s no answer, he’s passed out in Niall and Louis’ arms.

Everyone is scared, no one knows what’s happening to him and my eyes burn with all the tears I’m about to shed. Fear paralyses me, yet my whole body is trembling and I can’t take my eyes off of Liam’s body, his head hanging.

“Hurry up! We need to take him to the hospital!” That is Paul that comes running and takes Liam in his arms, rushing through the door.

Finally I can move and run behind him, tears are already falling down my cheeks and my heart now beats uncontrollably in my chest, hurting me with every beat.

Everything seems to be frozen yet it goes so fast I can’t make up anything. I don’t really know what’s happening, I only know that we’re driving at the speed limit, Liam and I are in one row of seats, his head on my lap and he looks like he’s sleeping but I can’t relax, I’m still shaking and I touch his face, asking him to wake up. Begging.

“Please, babe, open your eyes,” I plead with my voice shaking. “Open them and look at me, tell me you’re okay.” I cry, sobs escaping from my lips and I feel a hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently. I look back and it’s Zayn, his expression showing as much concern as possible.

“He’ll be fine. He’s a strong lad,” Zayn reminds me but even though I nod, my heart doesn’t stop beating painfully in my ribcage.

Not soon enough we get to the hospital and I want to go with Liam but a nurse stops me no matter how much I cry and beg her to let me go with him, I’m forced to stay behind with everyone else, waiting for some news about Liam’s state and whatever happened. I can’t sit, I walk from one side to the other, biting my nails desperately I don’t play much attention to the people with me in the waiting room, all the worried expressions. All the lads are here, Paul and Lou are with us as well, hoping for good news.

I can’t calm down, I’m more scared than when Lizzie was with a horrendous stomachache and for a moment I thought she had appendicitis. Luckily, she was okay, nothing worse than the consequences of eating too many cookies. I hope Liam is okay, that’s it’s nothing serious and he’ll be fine, but I can’t vanish the bad feeling from my guts.

It seems like an eternity has passed when the doctor is back and I run towards him. “How’s Liam?” I ask immediately.

“Are you some relative of Mr Payne?” He asks me and I shake my head.

“I’m his girlfriend. His family isn’t here,” I reply and before I can add something, the lads are next to me.

“His mum is coming, she’ll be here in the morning,” Harry adds and I look at him for a few seconds. I didn’t even think of calling his mum.

“I shouldn’t tell you all this, but considering no relatives are present, I’ll have to.” I just want to scream at him to stop with all the bureaucracy and tell us what’s wrong once and for all. “So far we can only tell Mr Payne came here with a case of anaemia due to a kidney failure. We are going to run more tests to know when this started to happen because his haematocrit is quite low already for a man his age.”

I’m not sure if I’m following him, I can only grasp anaemia, kidney failure and more tests. This is serious, this is dangerous and my eyes start to water again as I feel my knees are about to fail me.

“But I thought Liam’s kidney was okay and working again,” Zayn says and I look at him confused. What happened with Liam’s kidney before? What is this?

“I read his medical history, but it is quite normal for people with Mr Payne’s condition to have his kidneys failing again, after such an uncommon event.”

I’m so confused and I can’t follow anything of what they are talking about. What condition? Liam never told me anything about it, he always acted like everything was fine and he had nothing to worry about his health.

“Is he okay now?” I ask, ignoring that Harry is about to ask something else.

“He’s awake but still very weak. For how long has he been pushing himself to his limits? I have reasons to believe this breakdown has to do with more things than his kidney condition.”

“He’s been really tired for a couple of weeks now and with lack of appetite,” Lou answers joining us in front of the doctor.

“As I though,” he mutters. “I know you want to see him and I will allow it but just for a few minutes, after that only one can stay with him until his mother arrives. The rest of your will have to stick to the visit schedule.”

“Thank you!” I exclaim giving the doctor a hug, grateful that he will let us see him now.

The doctor seems surprised for my behaviour but recovers soon and pats my back encouragingly. “Here,” he indicates pulling away and signalling the way to Liam’s room.

I hate that I can’t go faster, run to his side and see him again, with his caring and warm eyes on me, telling me not to worry because things are fine, he’s fine. I need to take his hand to make sure he’s fine.

Finally I walk in the room to see Liam on the bed, pale and with big dark bags under his eyes, eyelids closed and deep breathing, his chest rising and falling slowly. He must hear us because he opens his eyes immediately, scanning the room and finding us all there, looking at him with worried expressions.

“Guys,” he greets, his voice raspy and low. “Hi,” he adds next with a little smile and I burst out crying, relief burning in my veins that he is awake, that he’s fine for now. “Darcy, hey, I’m okay, don’t cry,” he tells me, only looking at me this time, extending his hand, the one with the IV and that image breaks my heart even more.

I walk next to his bed, taking his hand and squeezing it gently. “You scared me,” I mumble and he chuckles, like I’ve just told him a joke.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to,” he apologises and I brush my tears with the back of my head.

“Don’t do it again, please,” I beg and he nods slightly, a smile still on his lips but he stills looks so tired.

“You scared us all, mate!” Louis adds in a loud tone walking over to the bed as well, at the other side of Liam. “And you better get better soon. Got it?”

Liam just chuckles again and smiles at all his friends. “I’m working on that,” he answers and everyone laughs softly, a relieved laughter. “What exactly happened?” He asks next and I see everyone shifting their weights uncomfortably and avoiding eye contact with Liam. “Guys?”

“The doctor said you had a case of anaemia due to a kidney failure. They will have to run some tests to know exactly what’s wrong, but that’s all I understood,” I fill him in the whole matter and the emotions I see crossing his face worry me. It’s not only confusion, it’s fear and anger, resignation and sadness, so much sadness.

“Kidney failure? But– but I thought I was okay. I thought…” he mumbles and the lads are next to him again, looking him with compassion in their eyes and the same sadness. They know what is happening while I feel like I’m a Limbo.

“Don’t worry, Liam. Everything will be fine. You’ll be fine,” Niall assures Liam and I know Liam wants to believe him, but he doesn’t seem really hopeful.

“I bet it’s not that bad, the doctor just didn’t know how to explain it to us. He used these weird names I can’t pronounce and that sound big and scary, but it isn’t,” Harry offers with a hopeful tone but I just look at him with my brow furrowed.

I don’t know how a doctor can put into words a kidney failure without making it sound as big and scary as it is.

“And we’re gonna be with you all the time, no matter what,” Zayn tells with his hand on Liam’s shoulder and I see the gratitude in his eyes before he turns to me and see my confused expression, realising there’s something important I don’t know.

“You should rest,” Paul says right when Liam is about to say something. He closes his mouth and nods resigned. “The doctor says only one can stay with you tonight.”

“You all should go and get some rest. It has been a long night for everyone,” Liam tells us all but I grab his hand tighter –still careful to be gentle– and shake my head.

“Right now you should only care about yourself, Liam, not about us,” Harry reprimands him and Liam laughs humourlessly.

“I can stay,” I offer not wanting to leave Liam’s side yet. “In the morning everyone can come back after they sleep and feel better.”

“It seems fine to me,” Zayn states and all the rest nod, only Liam hasn’t said something.

“But your mum and Lizzie…” he complains and I shake my head again.

“Mum will understand and I’m sure Lizzie wouldn’t want me to leave your side.”

He looks in my eyes for a few seconds, deciding what to do until he signs deeply and squeezes my hand back. “Okay,” he agrees and I smile encouragingly at him. Then he turns to look at all his friends. “I’ll see you guys tomorrow, then.” They all nod. “Thank you for being here.”

“We’ll see you soon, Lilipooh,” Niall teases him and I see Liam cringing at the pet name, which makes us chuckle softly. “Sleep tight.”

They say goodbye and Liam and I are alone in the room. He looks at me with concern in his eyes and I lean in to kiss his forehead. “Don’t worry now. You’ll explain me later, now get some sleep. I’ll be here next to you all night.”

“Thanks for staying with me,” he whispers with a soft smile. “Do I get a goodnight kiss?” Asks Liam next with a cheeky grin and I giggle.

“You don’t change, do you?” He only shrugs lightly. “Fine, good night, Liam.”

I lean in and kiss his lips softly and tenderly, caressing his hair with my other hand as I pull back. “Sweet dreams,” I whisper and I see how his heavy eyelids flutter, closing slowly until he’s sound asleep.

-:-:-:-

Now you know what's wrong with Liam. See? No cancer, no brain tumour and he's not going to die. I hope you liked this chapter, next one is one of my favourites. 

Dedication to @BradfordBB because this Sunday was her birthday.  Also to @Amz_loves_rumz and @abby_the_amazing1022 for the same reason! Happy birthday you all!

Bel, xx