Liam Payne’s sister Nicola has reflected on the final time she saw her late brother prior to his death at age 31 last year.
Taking to Instagram on Friday, August 29, to mark what would have been the One Direction singer’s 32nd birthday, Nicola shared a poignant message alongside several photos of Liam, including pictures of them posing together.
“A year ago today, we were so full of hope and excitement for what the years ahead would bring you,” Nicola, 37, wrote, as she reflected on the last time she saw her brother. “That night, celebrating your birthday with bowling and McDonald’s, we celebrated you, your show, your dreams, and spoke of all the plans you had for the future.”
She continued, “We ended the evening with a hug, telling you how proud we were and how much we loved you.”
Nicola went on to express that she wished she could relive the happy memory with her late sibling.
“If I had known that would be the last time I’d see you, I would have said so much more. I wish I could step into a time machine and relive that night and hug you tighter, capture your smile and voice, ask more questions, and write it all down so I’d never forget,” she wrote. “I hope you’re happy, at peace, and know how deeply you are loved. I miss you every single day, and I don’t think there will ever be a day that I don’t.”
Nicola concluded the post with a birthday wish for Liam, adding, “So today, on your birthday, I want to wish you the happiest heavenly birthday. Wherever you are, I hope you’re celebrating and hopefully you’ve scored a few strikes too.”
She then signed off the post with “Love you always.”
Liam died in October 2024 after falling from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenes Aires. The “Strip That Down” singer was laid to rest in a private funeral held in Amersham, England in November that same year. The funeral was attended by close friends and family as well as his former One Direction band members Harry Styles, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson.
Following Liam’s death, Nicola was among many mourners who reacted to the tragic news via an Instagram tribute.
“When I saw the news pop up on my phone that you had left us I went cold, I wanted to so much for this to be untrue,” Nicola wrote in October 2024. “I have spent days hoping that it was a mistake and somebody has got it wrong. You were truly too good for this earth, you are an angel who just lived for making people smile and happy.”
She added, “You have always shown kindness to everyone you met and it shows with just how many people have confirmed what we always knew!”
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