February 1st 2018

The chilly air was the first thing Harry noticed when he awoke that morning. Making sure Louis was still asleep, he slipped out of bed to go adjust the thermostat. Turning the heat up a little, he glanced out the window, and smiled, seeing it had snowed again. They'd had a cold, but dry January and it was nice to see the snow. He knew Louis would be excited. Louis could spend hours just watching the snow fall and admiring the way it glistened, he loved it. Louis loved feeling it even more, despite the cold. Any time that it snowed, Harry took him outside. It made Louis happy, and Louis' happiness was Harry's happiness.

Knowing Louis likely wouldn't wake for another hour or so, Harry made himself a cup of peppermint tea and brought it back to the bedroom. He curled up in the blankets, with his sleeping husband cuddled into his side, as he sipped the tea and scrolled through his phone, sending thank you messages to his friends and family who had wished him a happy birthday. Today, he was twenty six.

He awoke Louis at his usual time, and a part of him couldn't help but hope, that there would be some miracle and Louis would remember it was Harry's birthday, and say something about it. He felt selfish for even hoping that, but, he couldn't help it. No one wants their birthday to be forgotten.

When Louis' eyes finally opened, revealing their typical empty confusion, Harry felt a pang of sadness pierce through his chest. Of course Louis hadn't remembered. Why would he have hoped he would? It had been years since Louis had actually remembered Harry's birthday. With a sad smile he gently kissed Louis' pink lips. He of course wasn't upset with him, it wasn't his fault he couldn't remember. What Harry was upset with was the fact that he was slowly losing him to such an awful disease. "Good morning sunshine." He cooed.

Louis grinned happily at the word sunshine. It reminded him of his favorite song. "Suh-shi." Louis mumbled slowly, over and over again, his way of singing it, at least Harry was pretty sure that's what he was doing. He could never know for sure though.

After their typical morning routine, Harry decided to take Louis outside to see the snow. He wanted to make sure Louis got to experience every snowfall, because he never knew when it would be his last.

"It snowed again boo." Harry told him, as he guided his lifelong lover to the window, pointing out to the snow.

Louis didn't understand a word that Harry said, but the sight of the falling snow mesmerized him. He reached out to touch it, discouraged when his hand hit the glass of the window. Not understanding what had just happened he tried again, furrowing his eyebrows and grunting when he still had no success. He would've kept trying all day if Harry hadn't taken his hand and held it in his own. "It's glass baby. The window." He explained, trying to get Louis to understand.

He eventually managed to tug Louis away from the window so he could bundle him up to go outside, which proved to be quite the task. Every time Harry managed to get one article of winter clothing on him, Louis took another off. "Louis..." He sighed, "Let's keep our clothes on." It took about thirty minutes, but eventually Harry had gotten Louis completely bundled up to go out into the snow, with a lot of coaxing and encouragement.

Hand in hand, the husbands went outside into the cold. Louis shivered a little, and leaned against Harry. "A bit chilly out innit?" Harry said casually, trying to make Louis feel normal.

Louis started mumbling some sort of incoherent jibberish in response, thinking he was truly making conversation with Harry. Like always, Harry nodded along, and hummed in 'agreement' every now and then until Louis went quiet again, having said everything he felt he needed to say.

Harry kissed his cheek sweetly, "You certainly had a lot to say today didn't you babe?"

Louis just looked at him, and reached out to try and catch the falling snowflakes. Harry steadied his hand and watched as his beautiful face lit up as he looked at the snowflakes that were landing on his mitten-clad hand. "Did you know that every single snowflake is different? Not one of them is the same." Harry said softly. "They're unique and irreplaceable. Like people. No one is replaceable, especially not you my sweet Lou."

Louis turned to face Harry with a look in his eyes that Harry hadn't seen in ages. He knew Louis had understood him when the blue eyed man leaned forward, and kissed Harry's cheek, and quietly whispered, "ha...rry," before his eyes turned cloudy and confused again.

Harry had no clue what had just happened, but he couldn't have asked for a better gift for his birthday. If there was a God out there, Harry knew he had blessed him that day.

After a while of looking at the snowflakes, Louis started eating them and licking his hands, which to Harry was their cue to go back inside.

"How about some hot chocolate?" Harry asked as he took off Louis' coat and scarf, Louis managing to take of his own hat.

"Yeah, lets have hot chocolate." Harry responded to his own question when Louis didn't answer.

They carefully walked to the kitchen, Louis' steps small and slow, as Harry guided him, dreading the coming day when Louis wouldn't be able to walk anymore. He got Louis situated at the kitchen counter, and then turned around briefly to make the cocoa. He kept glancing back at his husband to make sure he was okay, needing to know where he was and what he was doing at all times. When he'd finished making the hot chocolate, he quickly went to fridge on the opposite side of the kitchen to get the whipped cream, as he walked back to where Louis had been sitting he saw Louis had gotten off his chair, and was slowly shuffling toward the hall.

"Louis baby, it's time for hot cocoa. How about we go sit down?" Harry asked gently as he approached him. Louis had a habit of pacing and wandering, which wasn't uncommon with Alzheimer's disease, but it still scared Harry. He had a special wristband on his husband with his name, address, phone number, and an explanation of his condition on it, just in case he were to ever wander away by mistake.

Louis looked up at Harry with a smile, and together they went back to the kitchen. Harry helped Louis to drink his hot chocolate, taking a picture of his cute face with a whipped cream mustache. "You're adorable." He chuckled as he helped Louis wipe his face.

Louis sloppily licked his lips, and yawned, having been in the snow wore him out.

"Ready for a nap baby?" Harry rubbed his back softly.

Louis recognized the word nap, and managed a small nod.

"Alright c'mon then." Harry said leading him back to their bedroom.

Once Louis was settled under the covers, Harry kissed his forehead. "Sleep well Lou." He whispered.

It hadn't been such a bad birthday after all.

***

After a dinner of chicken and rice, Harry and Louis were cuddled up on the couch as Harry read a simple story aloud. It wasn't until about halfway through the story that Harry noticed the quiet cries coming from his lover.

"Baby, you alright?" He asked, obviously concerned.

Of course, Louis didn't have an answer for him, and just started to cry. He was more alert today and knew what he'd just done. "Oh babe..." Harry said with tears in eyes as he felt the wetness on his lap. He lifted Louis into his arms, and carried him to the bathroom, choking back sobs as he did.

And just like that, Harry's day was ruined. Again, not because of Louis. He loved Louis with all his heart and soul, and he was more than willing to help him. His day was ruined because of the awful illness that was taking Louis away from him.

After Louis was all cleaned up, Harry dressed him in fresh pajamas and got him into bed. It was in those quiet moments, right after Louis had fallen asleep, that the memories of their first conversation with Doctor Corden, almost ten years ago, played through Harry's mind like a horror film, that had no end. Harry knew that Louis was in stage six now. And it scared the shit out of him.

Sorry I know this story is really sad, but with Alzheimer's it truly is reality. Anyway if you're still reading this story, and enjoying it, please please vote and comment. It would mean so much! All the love,

-Sunnie