Best Friends Forever

Iris’ P.O.V.

I could hear everything. I could see everything. My soul was watching everything from the outside. It was like I was floating between life and death. How I wish that I could just hug my parents, Lucie, Niall and Harry and tell them that it was all going to be okay. There were only two problems: they couldn’t hear, see or feel me and I didn’t even know if it was going to be okay. I was fighting for my life. I had to stay alive. I couldn’t leave them behind. I saw my parents leaving the room and only Harry was still there. I looked at him. I wanted to be able to look into each other’s eyes. He started talking to me. His words hit me right in the heart. He was so sweet. It made me cry. I grabbed his hand and held it for a few minutes. When he began singing a few lines of his song Don’t Let Me Go I felt like I was falling. Was this the end? Was I dying? Would it be scary? Would it hurt? I looked at Harry one more time before I went and whispered “I will always love you.”

“Mom, dad!”, I suddenly screamed. I opened my eyes and looked around me. I looked at myself. I was in my own body again. In front of me I saw three doctors standing. “You can call yourself lucky. It’s a miracle you’re still alive”, the brown-haired doctor said to me with a smile. At that moment my parents, Lucie, Harry and Niall ran in. “Iris!”, they shouted. They all had tears in their eyes. My mom grabbed my hand and carefully overloaded me with hugs. I cried tears of happiness. “I’m so sorry guys for doing this to you”, I said crying. I sat up straight and hugged my dad as well. “We thought we lost you”, my dad said sobbing. “Don’t ever do this to me again”, Lucie said as she enclosed me in her arms. She was still crying, but I saw a little smile coming through. “Never”, I said promising. I looked at Harry and he looked at me. We smiled at each other. He walked over to me and leaned in to kiss me. Our kiss was overloaded with love and joy. It felt so good. I had missed this so much. I couldn’t stop smiling. When we pulled apart, I saw Niall standing. “Come here”, I said and stretched out my arms to hug him. “I missed you too”, he responded grinning as he answered by hugging back. At that moment my mom turned around to the doctors, who were still standing there. “What happened exactly?”, she asked. “She’s been gone two times. One time earlier today, when she had a respiratory arrest. We had to revive her and that was enough to bring her back. She also just had a cardiac arrest. We had to revive her again, but we also gave her some electric shocks. We were just in time or else she would have been gone for real”, one of them explained. I swallowed. “Thanks”, I whispered with a lump in my throat. “You should thank yourself. You’re the one who kept fighting”, the doctor said to me. I showed a little smile. “It’s great to see you’re alive. We will check on you later”, the other doctor said and they all walked out of the room. “Mom, dad, Lucie and Niall, could you leave the two of us alone?”, I asked them. “Only if I can have some private time with you too”, Lucie responded grinning. “Of course”, I said laughing. They walked out and Harry sat down next to my bed. “Will you join me?”, I asked smiling as I lifted up my blanket. Without saying a word Harry lay down in my bed and wrapped his arms around me. I had longed for this for such a long time. “Will you tell me what happened exactly?”, he asked. I looked at his face and saw he was serious. I owed him an explanation. “I thought you were gone”, he said with a lump in his throat. I placed my head on Harry’s chest and intertwined my fingers in his. “We went out Sunday night and I met a boy”, I began explaining. “We had a great time on the dance floor and he gave me his number, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about you. Actually I never stopped thinking about you, but I just learned to deal with it. Somehow my feelings were stronger that night. I missed you like crazy. I started crying and it got worse and worse. I couldn’t control myself. I was such a wreck. Then I remembered I still had some XTC pills and antidepressants left that Justin gave me. I took them all without noticing how many they were. Quickly after that I passed out. It was just an accident. A stupid accident”, I continued and started whimpering. “Sssh, it’s okay. I’m with you and I am never letting you go”, Harry whispered as he stroke my hair. I turned my head around and gave Harry a quick kiss. “I love you”, I whispered. “I love you too”, he responded. We lay like this without saying a word till my parents came in. “The cute lovebirds”, my dad said laughing. I grinned. Then his face turned seriously. “What’s up?”, I asked. “We want to talk to you about something”, my mom answered. “The doctors think it’s best to put you in rehab”, my dad said slowly. “WHAT? WHY?”, I exclaimed. “You know why. Or else you wouldn’t be here”, my mom responded. “It was an accident. I didn’t mean to overdose myself”, I said trying to convince them, but I didn’t sound so convincing even though I was telling the truth. “It’s for your own good, sweetie”, my mom said. “I’m not going to rehab! It was a fucking accident!”, I responded angrily. “It’s only for 28 days”, my dad said, trying to calm me down. “28 days too much!”, I said raging. “And what about school? I don’t want to fail this year. I have to pass my finals!”, I continued. “Everything’s arranged. You can continue school in rehab”, my dad responded. “You are the meanest. I hate you both”, I said while laying down on my belly so I didn’t have to face them. “We know, but you’ll be thankful someday”, my mom said. I heard them leaving the room. “Don’t be so hard on your parents. They want what’s best for you and they don’t want to lose you. Just like me”, Harry whispered while rubbing my back. “That’s easy to say when you’re not going to be locked up in an institution for a month. There are also other ways”, I responded. I was so furious with my parents. How could they do this to me? “Hey, I have an idea”, he said. I turned on my back again and looked at Harry with tearful eyes. Harry was grinning widely. “Oh I know that look”, I said laughing. “Maybe I can convince your parents to not put you in rehab, but that you come to London. You’ll be with me and it could be a good idea to be out of your daily environment”, he explained. “That’s a great idea! But my parents won’t approve. They won’t just let me go to London”, I responded. “I will talk to them. Trust me”, Harry said and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. “Please stay with me for a bit”, I said softly. “Always”, he said smiling. I rested my head on his chest again while his arms were wrapped around me. We were quiet for a moment. “Harry”, I whispered. “Yes, love?” “I heard what you said to me when I was in coma. I witnessed everything. I was watching everything from the outside”, I slowly began. “What you said was so sweet. I was fighting for my life and even though I flat lined, you’re my guardian angel, Harry.” “I meant every word of it. Please don’t forget that. I thought I could never hold you anymore, but look at us now. I’m so happy. Nothing can break us anymore”, he responded, grabbed my hand and kissed it. At that moment Lucie’s head appeared at the door. She had puppy eyes. “Come in. I was just about to leave”, Harry said to her. “I will talk to your parents”, he said while kissing me on the cheek and left the room. Lucie came up to me and gave me a big hug. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you like this”, she said smiling. “You have no idea how happy I am to be alive”, I responded with a smile. “Lucie, it was just an accident. Please believe me. I’m not addicted and it wasn’t a cry for help. It was an accident. I regret doing this to you so much. That wasn’t my intention. I had some pills left and I just wanted a few to numb my feelings. I didn’t mean to take that much”, I explained. “I believe you. It’s okay. I think it’s stupid of your parents to put you into rehab. I know you’re not addicted. You’re too smart for that”, she responded. “Thanks. I’m happy you understand”, I said with a little smile. “That sounds like a special someone doesn’t”, Lucie said slowly. “No no, that’s not what I specifically meant. Harry came up with the idea that I could come to London. Just to be out of my daily environment”, I responded. “That’s so much better than rehab, but then I’ll have to miss you”, Lucie said. “You could come too and live with Niall”, I suggested. “Ever heard of school?”, she responded grinning. We kept chatting for another hour. Once Lucie and I begin talking, we mostly can’t stop. It was so nice. I could never leave my friends and family behind. They are too great.
“Sorry sweetie, I want to go to sleep. I’m so tired”, I said to Lucie. It was already 10pm. “My body isn’t recovered from the drugs yet”, I continued. “Don’t worry. I’ll see you tomorrow after I get back from school”, she responded. “Don’t do anything crazy”, Lucie said grinning and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I waved at her while she walked out of the room. My parents, Niall and Harry had already left when Lucie was with me. I was alone again, but I wasn’t desperate lonely. Everything was going to be okay. I knew it.

“Good morning, love”, I heard a voice whispering. I opened my eyes and stared into Harry’s green eyes. “Hey”, I whispered back smiling. “Are you ready for a surprise?”, Harry asked me. “A surprise?”, I asked confused. Then I realized something. “Am I going to London with you?!”, I exclaimed. “Sorry, I don’t know. I discussed it with your parents and they would think about it”, he responded. I felt really disappointed. I wanted to be with Harry so badly. We were silent for a few seconds, then Harry continued, “But you’ll love my surprise!” He walked back to the door and I heard him saying “Come in, guys.” Suddenly my room was filled with people. I squealed out of excitement. Everyone was there. Liam, Louis, Zayn, Jennifer, Perrie, Eleanor and also Niall and Lucie a few seconds later. Harry brought them all with him. “You came up with this?”, I asked Harry smiling. “Yes, I did”, he said while squeezing my hand. “Oh my god, I’m so happy to see you guys! I missed you all!”, I exclaimed. I slowly sat up straight and pushed my legs to the edge of my bed. “No no, stay in bed”, Jennifer said worried. “It’s okay. I’m allowed to go out of bed and I have to stretch my legs sometime too. I have only been in this bed for a few days, but it already drives me nuts”, I responded as I tried to stand on my legs. They were really weak and I almost slumped. Luckily Harry grabbed my arm just in time. “Maybe it’s best for you if you lay down again. Your body is still recovering”, Harry said. “No please. I’m fine. I just want to give my friends a proper hug”, I responded with a smile. “Group hug!”, Louis exclaimed. I grinned. We all joined and hugged each other for about ten seconds. I could feel the love and joy. We were one happy family. When we pulled apart, I hurried back to my bed and plopped down. “I guess I’ll just stick to laying down some more”, I said grinning. They started laughing. “We brought you a present”, Liam said and walked out of the room. A second later he came in with a huge teddy bear. “It’s huge!”, I said laughing. “Now you have something to cuddle with if you’re alone”, Perrie said with a smile. “Thanks guys. You’re the best. That’s really sweet”, I responded smiling.

“Hey girl, how are you feeling?”, my mom asked as she and my dad walked in. The others just left. “I’m fine. Still a bit weak, but it’s okay”, I answered. “Your dad and I thought about Harry’s suggestion…”, my mom began. “Aaaaand?”, I asked impatiently. “We approve”, she finished. I squealed out of excitement again. “Really?”, I asked in disbelief. “Really”, my dad confirmed. “We were too fast to draw a conclusion. Harry told us what you had told him. Rehab is not the right place for you, but we do think, just like Harry said, that it’s good for you to be out of your daily environment”, my mom explained. “Thanks”, I said smiling. “When I am leaving?”, I asked. “As soon as you get out of the hospital, but we want you to have a good recovery so it may take some more days”, my dad answered. “I’m totally fine. Everything’s better than rehab”, I said with a grin. Not much later Harry walked in. “I can come with you!”, I exclaimed with a big smile. “You better take good care of her or you’ll get in trouble”, my dad said to him seriously. “I wouldn’t do anything else. She’s in good hands with me”, Harry reassured him. Harry walked over to my bed and kissed me on the cheek. “That’s perfect. We’ll have a great time together”, he whispered. The expression on his face changed. “I’m so so so sorry, but I have to get back to England. We have to do some last record sessions for our new album and there are some promotion things too”, he said slowly. I felt disappointed, but I tried not to show it. He had to do his own things. He wasn’t only mine. “It’s okay. It’s a part of your job. I’ll miss you”, I responded. “I’m gonna miss you too. I will see you when you come to England”, he said. He bent over my bed and leaned in to kiss me. “I love you”, he said when we pulled apart. “I love you too”, I whispered and held his hand for a while. Then he walked to the door and waved before closing the door. It was difficult to say goodbye, even though I knew he would stay by my side and I would see him soon again. “Don’t worry. You’ll be in England before you know it. You’ve always been a strong girl so we know you’ll recover quickly”, my mom said with a reassuring smile.

Notes