Nicola Payne is penning a touching tribute to her late brother, Liam Payne, following his tragic death at 31.
“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,” she began in a lengthy Instagram statement on Monday.
“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 continued. “You have always shown kindness to everyone you met and it shows with just how many people have confirmed what we always knew!”
In her tribute, Nicola noted that Liam’s family didn’t take a lot of photos with him because they “never wanted him to feel like he was in a room of fans, but we were your biggest fans now and forever.”
“Your talent alone puts you miles ahead, but also you being you,” she stated. “I have been looking back at the messages from the night I had Ffion, how excited you were to meet her, the jokes we all shared and the laughter that you knew we all needed.”
Nicola reiterated her brother’s motto of “why bother doing something unless you are brilliant at it, and Liam you were certainly brilliant at everything you did!!”
“Unfortunately this cruel world is always to quick to judge someone from a few 5 second clips, they then think it entitles them to be able to speak like they know you. We knew you and we loved you,” she explained. “I hope you have finally found peace up there and that you’ll continue to look after us all as you have done in life. We will make sure Bear knows about his daddy and how much you loved him, we promise this.”
Nicola concluded her heartbreaking post by writing, “See you soon, Liam, Love You xx.”
The former One Direction member’s sister shared several family photos alongside her message. One photo showed the duo and their sister Ruth smiling in front of a floral backdrop and balloons.
In a second snap, the late artist appeared to walk next to his niece, while a final shot saw the three siblings with their parents, Karen and Geoff.
A day after Liam died his family released a statement saying, “Liam will forever live in our hearts and we’ll remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul.”
“We are supporting each other the best we can as a family and ask for privacy and space at this awful time,” they added.