Lessons Learned

Part 16.

"It's not a list of rules, it's a condition." I heard the crinkling of paper and knew Liam had pulled it out. "It says that wayfaring souls may not remain in the limbo. They must complete their required life lessons and seal their fate." I felt my heart drop. I didn't want to leave Niall. "But in the case of true love, the person may return once their life self passes on. That is extremely rare though and I don't know if it's ever happened."

"Thanks Liam," Niall hung up the phone and tossed it across the tent. I tried to untangle the jumble of thoughts in my head. I couldn't stay here with Niall, that much was certain, but I wondered how long I had until I would be forced out. As far as the true love went, I didn't think that was even a remote possibility. Sure I had strong feelings for the adorable blonde, but I didn't think they would ever hit that level. I didn't find myself capable of love at all.

"I'll keep you here as long as I can," I heard the sound of Niall's sleeping bag unzipping and I wondered why he was getting out. "I'm just not sure how long that will actually be."

A tug came at the zipper of my bag and I saw Niall's flawless face inches from my own. "What are you doing?"

"It's too cold," he joined me in my sleeping bag, wrapping me tightly in his arms. "I need you to warm me up."

"Told you this was a bad idea," I teased, pressing my face to his frozen cheek. "Your feet are like ice." I shrieked as he wiggled his bare toes against my leg.

"I think it was a good idea," he pressed his sweet lips to mine softly. "Cause I get to spend the night with you in my arms."

I smiled into the sensitive skin of Niall's neck and drifted off to sleep, his even breathing and gentle touch making me feel the safest I ever had.

When I was in his arms the words of the rest of the world couldn't harm me.

--

Niall was still fast asleep when I woke up the next morning, his arm draped over me and his face pressed into my neck. He was mumbling softly under his breath and I did my best not to wake him as I untangled my legs from his. He rolled over as I crawled out of the warm sleeping bag, his hand finding mine in his unconscious state.

"Don't go," he murmured before flipping over and curling into himself, his breathing evening out as his slumber deepened. I climbed out of the tent, letting my bare feet sink into the dewy grass as the sun feebly attempted to peek out from behind the early morning clouds.

I walked over to the pond, my feet leaving marks on the otherwise flawless grass, carving a path to the place where I now rested. I pulled my knees to my chest, letting my chin rest on the red and black flannel of my pajama bottoms as I trailed a stick lazily through the still water of the pond.

As I sat there I began to think about everything. This past week and half with Niall had been the best time of my life. Or non-life. I wasn't really sure how to classify it, but it had most definitely been the happiest I had ever felt. I didn't know how long I had left to spend with the blonde haired cutie and, in all honesty, I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend another day with him. The longer I looked into those gorgeous eyes and saw his breathtaking smile the harder I would fall. It would just hurt more when I was forced out.

He was the only person who had ever made me feel like I wasn't worthless and that meant everything to me. I remembered his words from last night, how he said that he would look over me when I was gone. It was a comforting thought. Even when I was a mere memory he would still be a part of me, whether I realized it or not.

The sooner I got out of here and moved on to whatever awaited me next, the better. Losing him was going to kill me, and I preferred to do it on my own terms instead of waiting for whoever was in charge of this limbo world to kick me out.