It's taking all your strenght (Zarry /AU.) /English Version

14. The photograph

Zayn

New York shows its winter side. A cold wind sweeps through the trees and roads. A thick layer of cloud hang the sky. Wrapped in a warm black coat, Zayn leaves the house. It's February. He quickly crosses the street to spend the morning in his favorite café. As soon as he walks through the door, the owner welcomes him with a broad smile.

 "Hey, Mr. Malik, coffee, black as the soul and oven-fresh pancakes?"

 Zayn nods thankfully and takes a seat at one of the empty tables. He takes off his coat and rubs both palms together.

The steaming coffee warms him up nicely. His fingers clasp the hot cup and gives off the heat to his body.

 "What's the news, Mick?" He asks. 

"Are the businesses doing well?"

 "I can't complain, Mr. Malik. The café is well visted and the guests are adorable," he replies.

On one of the next tables, Zayn spots the daily newspaper, hoping to find the crosswords still unsolved. He grabs the newspaper and looks for a pen in his pocket. His gaze fall on the front page.

"Harry Styles caught holding hands and kissing with ex-bandmate Louis Tomlinson"

Zayn shivers and his blood pressure drops. He hastily stuffs the newspaper in his bag, the Pancakes lay untouched on the plate. Zayn places a ten-dollar note next to his plate and leaves the building without a word.

Now he's running through the streets. His legs are wobbly. Zayn long denied the thought that he still loves Harry. He threw himself into work, travelled around and endet up with Gigi - a wonderful woman. Zayn seemed free at last. Free from the pressure of a rigid management; free from a fixed musical direction; free from arranged relationships and free from Larry Stylinson.

And now this headline hits him like a thunderbolt and breaks his heart into a thousand pieces. Harry and Louis  it's pounding in his head. All those years I knew it and did n't want to admit it. With a trembling hand he pulls the magazine out of his pocket and looks at the colored pictures. Zayn fought back the tears. In the lower picture  they kissed. Louis had his eyes closed. There were fresh roses on the table.

It's turned very cold and he's on the way home.