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One Direction shares first official photo without Zayn Malik

One Direction fans across the world are still coping with last month's announcement that Zayn Malik would be leaving the group, but life mus
/ Source: TODAY

One Direction fans across the world are still coping with last month's announcement that Zayn Malik would be leaving the group, but life must go on.

And now the band has taken its first step: One Direction has released an official photo without Malik.

One Direction are Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan
One Direction are Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan.modestmanagement.com

The photo shows Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson as a four-piece group for the first time.

Malik's departure has been hard for fans and the band alike. Hour after his departure, Styles was seen wiping tears from his eyes during a concert in Indonesia.

One Direction in Nov. 23, 2014. (From L to R: Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles)
One Direction in Nov. 23, 2014. (From L to R: Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles)John Shearer / AP

We all knew this time would come, but that doesn't make it sting any less.