Louis Tomlinson Says It’s Impossibly Difficult to Cope Without Liam Payne

Louis Tomlinson is reliving the heartbreak again — a year after Liam Payne’s tragic death, he admits the pain of losing him still feels impossible to bear.

In a new interview, Louis admitted the band’s 15th anniversary earlier this year felt painfully empty without Liam … but said they all knew celebrating was just as important — if not more — in Liam’s honor.

Louis told Rolling Stone it still feels unfair and frustrating that Liam wasn’t there with them … confessing he’s still carrying all those raw, heavy feelings every day.

Louis — who’s already endured the heartbreak of losing both his mother and sister — admitted he naively thought he understood grief for his age, and Liam’s death might somehow feel less crushing. But it hit differently, he said … because he’d never lost a friend before.

It was an emotional sit-down, with Louis also hailing Liam as the most seasoned of the bunch before 1D formed … someone they all quietly looked up to, even if their pride as young men kept them from saying it back then.