A Light in the Dark // Flicker Series Part I #wattys2019

Hard to Love

Chapter 25
Evie's POV // Hard to Love

"You've been quiet since we left Liam..." Niall says, breaking the silence.

We've been walking hand in hand across the large park that the festival is being held in to get to our next destination.

"Sorry." I apologize, squeezing his hand and leaning into him as we continue to walk. "I didn't mean to be..."

"You don't have to apologize. Just wanted to know what's on your mind?" Niall asks, kissing my temple.

I turn into his kiss, and stop walking.

He looks at me, examining my entire face as if he's trying to find the source of all this.

"It's just hitting me how difficult this is going to be. Travel, schedules, bouncing from continent to continent. You can't even make time to see one of your best friends...what's going to happen when you don't have time to see your girlfriend?" I ask, my voice cracking involuntarily.

This look that I haven't seen before covers Niall's face. It's a twinge of sadness mixed with pain as the words cross my lips. He sighs pulling my head against his chest, a tear slipping out of my eye as he does.

"I don't want you to worry about this. I'm going to do everything I can for you and me." He says honestly, eyes pleading with me to believe him.

"I know, Niall." I say, placing my hand over his that's resting on my cheek. "We just haven't talked about this yet. My heart knows we'll be alright, I just..."

"You just need a plan so your mind can know we'll be alright." He finishes for me.

"Exactly." I nod into his chest, thinking how truly amazing it is that he knows my thoughts so well already.

"We'll make a plan, baby. I promise." He says, kissing my forehead. "I don't want you to worry about a thing." He whispers into my hair.

"When do you leave Nashville?"

"Tuesday morning, early." He says quietly. I can hear his voice break at the end of his sentence but I know he's forcing himself to stay strong for me.

We're 2 days away from Tuesday, but suddenly it feels like our bubble has been popped and i'm left floundering for solid ground in the midst of uncertainty. I know he's right here and I have nothing to worry about, but it suddenly has become all too real that he won't be here forever.

I sniffle, uncontrollably as the tears are now freely falling. Niall's arms squeeze tighter around me, and my sniffles turn to sobs.

"I'm sorry." He whispers, peppering kisses all over my forehead as he holds me in his arms.