The familiar, high-pitched shrill of a cry rang through the entire house and automatically, my eyes shot open. For a second, I waited. I wasn't sure why, but I waited for something, anything, but it never came. The realization hit me again. I was alone in this, like I had been for a while now.

I rolled out of bed, pulling on a pair of sweat pants. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. 4:07AM. I resisted the urge to growl through gritted teeth as I padded out of my bedroom and down the hall. It wasn't her fault. None of this was because of her.

I reached her bedroom, and pushed open the door quietly with a yawn. She was sat up in her cot, face red and soggy from the tears that rolled from her pretty green eyes. I sighed with a lop-sided smile and approached the crib, reaching down inside to scoop her up. I used a finger to dry her warm cheeks, and wipe away the runny nose she had.

Her crying still didn't ease as I held her close to my bare chest. I squeezed my eyes shut. "Shh, baby. It's okay." I whispered to her, cupping the back of her head with my hand as I rocked her. "Daddy's here. No more tears, now." I soothed, my voice raspier then usual, probably from the lack of sleep.

Her crying began to slow, but her tiny body still shook from repressed sobs, I slowly began to walk around her bedroom with her, gently bouncing her in my arms. Her tiny hands gripped at the array of necklaces I wore around my neck as she lay her head against my shoulder.

"There we go." I smiled down at her. "No more crying now, sweetheart. Daddy's not going anywhere." I took a seat on the sofa that was set up in her room. The sofa that I had spent so many sleepless nights on, the sofa that held so many precious memories and some, not so good.

I rested my head against the back of the seat, and stared up at the dimly lit ceiling. I looked at the hundreds of glow in the dark stars I had arranged there, when I had first heard the news of her arriving. Then to the cot I had spent so long trying to assemble, without the use of instructions. I glanced around her whole bedroom, lit up my a small night light in the corner. I looked at her toys, the gifts she had received from family and friends, blankets, her tiny clothes hung up on dressers, and the big, pastel letters on the wall above her cot spelling 'Amber'. I smiled again and protectively cradled my daughter against me as she sank into a peaceful, relieved slumber.

"We're gonna be okay." I whispered, more to myself then to her. I was alone in this and it frightened me. Amber was lonely and scared and so was I. I couldn't escape the panic attacks I had nearly every night, and the nightmares of losing the one thing that kept me going. I never thought I'd be here. I always imagined myself growing up with a beautiful wife and a beautiful child, where we would do things together. But it was just me and Amber now and I really wasn't coping, as much as I convinced everyone otherwise.

It had been three weeks since Amber's mum had left. I had loved her from the moment I had met her, and I truly believed that we'd be together forever. But one day, out of the blue, she packed up all her things, said goodbye to me and Amber and then walked straight out of the front door. I hadn't heard from her since. My world as I knew it, came crumbling down around me and there wasn't a single thing I could do to stop it. I had never felt so helpless and alone, but I couldn't stop to think about anything to too long. I had a daughter that needed her I was. 21, a father to a 6 month old baby, who had to give up his job to look after his child. To say things were hard, was a complete understatement. But I was determined. I wouldn't let Amber down, not after what her mother had done, I just couldn't.

I woke up on the same sofa later that morning. It was now just after 6AM and Amber was up and ready for the day. When I finally opened my eyes up fully, I glanced down at her and she smiled back, her beautiful green eyes staring back at me. She filled me with so much love and happiness that whenever I looked at her, I would forget, if only for a little while.

"Hey, Baby. Ready for breakfast?" I yawned, lifting her up under the arms and raising her high above my head. She squealed and kicked as I lowered her back down, nuzzling my face into her and blowing raspberries on her tummy and arms. "Let's go, then." I giggled, heaving myself off the seat and making my way down the stairs with Amber.

Once in the kitchen, I sat her into her highchair and began to fasten the straps around her. She grasped at the mass of curls around my head, as I leant over her, and pulled them into her mouth. I laughed and pulled away gently, unwrapping her tiny fingers from the wisps of hair. "No, Baby. Daddy's hair isn't food!" She sat there happily slapping her hands on the tray in front of her, so I turned to the cupboards to fix her breakfast. But when I opened them, I was met with only one jar of baby food and enough formula for one bottle. I wanted to cry.

After everything that had been happening over the past few weeks, I had completely forgotten about shopping.

"Looks like Daddy and Amber are going shopping today.." I sighed, turning to face my daughter who stared back at me, dribble running down her chin.

I smiled and grabbed a clean bib from the side. "You messy pup!" I cooed, going to her and gently wiping the spit from her face. When she was clean, I fastened the bib around her and grabbed her jar of food from the side. I was just getting her first spoonful ready when my mobile began to ring loudly in the living room. I frowned, putting down the food and lifting Amber out of her high chair. My daughter clearly wasn't happy about having her breakfast interrupted and began to cry. High, nails-on-chalkboard, screams followed with heart wrenching sobs.

I winced as I raced through the hall and into the living room to retrieve my phone. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Daddy's just gonna take this and then we can have breakfast. I'm so sorry." I daren't leave her alone, not even for two seconds. I loved her too much for anything to happen to her. Where ever I went, Amber went.

I picked up my phone and pressed the 'Answer' button, holding it to my ear and almost shouting out a-"Hello?"

"Harry? Whats going on?"

I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized it was my best friend, Zayn calling. He'd been away on holiday for months with his new girlfriend and now, it seemed he was back. I was relieved to hear a familiar voice.

"Nothing. Amber's just hungry." I told him, holding my phone to my ear with my shoulder and making my way back into the kitchen with Amber still choking out sobs on my hip.

"Oh. Do you need a-"

"No. I'm fine. How was Dubai?" I asked, changing the subject completely as I sat Amber back down in her highchair. It wasn't even 7AM and I was exhausted. I stifled a yawn as I picked up her jar of baby food and dipped in her spoon.

"It was great! We had such an awesome time. I was just calling to see if you were okay." Zayn changed the conversation back to me again.

All I really wanted to say was- "No, I'm not okay. I'm finding this really hard and I just need some help." But I was too proud. Not even my own mother could talk sense into me. I was determined to be okay and show everyone that I was strong, even if inside, I was falling apart.

"I'm fine." I told him, pulling a silly, cartoon-esque face at Amber as I swerved and dived the spoon towards her mouth. She gurgled happily as she took the food, awaiting the next mouthful. "I'm just tired. I need to get some things from the shops so me and Amber will make a day of it." I told him, trying to sound as cheerful as I could.

"Me and Perrie can always-"

"Zayn please. I can do this." I told him again. "Look, I have to go. I have to give Amber her breakfast and then get her dressed. I'll speak to you soon."

I heard my friend sigh on the end of the phone and it actually hurt me. I wanted to let him in, but I just couldn't. I couldn't lose it now. Not when I was doing so well. "Well, alright. I'll pop round soon. I have gifts for Amber. Give her love from her Uncle Zayn. And you take care of yourself, please?"

I nodded. "I will."

"Alright. See you soon, Harry."

"Bye."

I ended the call and threw my phone rather harshly onto the kitchen table next to me. Amber watched me as I spooned up more food for her, but this time she didn't smile when I made the airplane noises and moved her little head away as I tried to feed her. It was like she knew what I was feeling and when I was sad, so was she. I couldn't bare to see her sad.

I put her jar of food down and picked her up out of her highchair again, placing her on my knee. I placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "Uncle Zayn misses you." I told her, bouncing my knee gently so she bobbed with it. She let out a sweet laugh and I couldn't help but chuckle myself. "Yeah, Uncle Zayn!" She clapped her chubby little hands together and then tried to reach for my curls again.

I rolled my eyes with a small smile. "Alright, princess. Let's go get you dressed."

As I made my way out of the kitchen and back up the stairs I realized that today would be my first day venturing outside since I'd lost everything that was close to me. Since she left me and Amber. Every feeling I had towards her had turned into nothing but hurt and hate. How could she do it to me? She promised she'd never leave me. But promises don't mean shit to some people. I wasn't sure how I would have done it, if it wasn't for my mother and Zayn. At first, they went to the shops for me, showed me how to prepare a formula properly, they watched Amber whilst I showered and taught me how to change her. But I had to do this on my own now, and I'd do it even if it killed me.