Chapter 11

I didn't know what peace felt like

Till she held me in her arms

And told me she'd hold on tight.

Niall's POV

"Yes I'll always be here with you."

Those words. So easy to say, but hold so much depth and meaning. She just made a promise to me. A promise to always be with me. A promise to never let me go.

I don't know how much time she got. She said five years tops but I believe she'll last longer than that. The world is evolving you know, a cure might have come out before her time is up. Maybe she'd be used for a clinical test or something. But one thing's for sure, she'll be with me till the end.

We're both at the same spot; silence consuming us. But the silence comforts me, it rubs a soothing balm all over my wounds and eases some of my pain.

For the first time in a very long time, I can breathe without choking. I enjoy this feeling, taking slow and deep breaths.

Gripping her tighter. In turn, she tugs my hair out of the band holding it, running her fingers through the curls. It calms me and I close my eyes, enjoying this feeling.

We stay that way for a while, none of us daring change positions. Her phone begins to buzz all of a sudden. She let's go of my hair and reaches for her phone on the table. She groans before she answers it.

"Mom?" I can barely hear who's on the other end of the phone but apparently the person isn't very happy. I get off her lap instinctively.

"Yes Mom, I'll be right there." She doesn't sound happy either.

"What time is it?" I question as she gets off the phone.

"It's almost 8pm." she's getting up from the bean bag now and adjusting her clothes.

"Shit. No wonder your mum sounded so pissed."

I scramble off the bean bag and search for my keys. I need to drive her home.

"It's okay I've stayed later than this before." She's laughing now. How can she laugh in such a situation?

"With a boy?" I just have to ask.

"Nope." She's not laughing anymore.

"Let's go then. I'll drive you." She grabs one more doughnut from the tray before following me. I knew she liked them.

The ride is silent, except the music blaring from the radio. Her hand rests on the arm rest of her seat and I stretch out my own hands to intertwine with hers. She turns and gives me a small smile, but doesn't pull away. I keep on stealing glances at her while she hums to the song from the radio.

"You just missed it."

"Missed what?" I wasn't paying attention to the road.

"The turn to my house.

You just missed it."

"Shit.I'll turn around."

She's laughing silently at me. Careful not to make a sound.

"It's that house over there. Yeah, this one." Her house is a beautiful storey building. With a slanting roof by the side. It's not a modern building and it holds an ancient look to it.

She steps out of the car and turns around to stare at me through the window, placing her elbow on the half open window.

"Do you want me to come inside and maybe say hi?" She laughs at me. Her laughter is loud and her head rolls back.

"I'm pretty sure my mum will not be too excited to find out that I came back this late because I was with a boy."

"Fair enough." I finally share her laughter. " What will you tell her?"

"I was with my best friend. The excuse always works."

"Ahhh.. I see." I'm nodding my head at her, still laughing. "I'll call you then?"

"You don't have my number." She's looking down.

"Then give me." I stretch out my phone and place it in her hands.

"There you go. I better get inside now if I want to still be alive by tommorow."

"Bye Claire."

"Bye Nia'll."