After our long hug and kiss, I helped Max to his feet. Grabbing his side in pure pain, Max bared his teeth and fell to his knees.
"I don't think I can walk, Nev. It is too painful..." Max managed to whimper. I looked down at my friend with large worried eyes. "Should I call an ambulance?"
Max shook his head. "No, no, no. I-i might be able to manage... We need to find those two..."
"Max, you are hurt. Can't we just call 911 and have them deal with it all?" I said with a shaky voice. "You were thrown down a flight of stairs. You could have been severely hurt and not even know it. You were physically and mentally dead several minutes. I don't want to chance anything. You mean so much to me and I'm not loosing you again and I'm not going through all of this again." I started to tear up.
Max looked deeply into tear filled eyes and sighed. "Nev, I think I'm alright."
"Think. You think. You don't know. I'm calling 911 for help."
I quickly got out my phone and dialed the numbers 911. Once they answered, I told them everything that happened.
After I hung up, I sat on the ground next to Max, who was still holding his side. I set my hand on his side over his hand and smiled. "You'll be okay. The ambulance is in it's way and you will be taken to the hospital. Hopefully nothing serious happened." I said, not even realizing how my perspective changed tones.
Max smiled, but didn't look up at me. He sat silent and motionless, giving a blank stare at the ground. I put my arm around him and pulled him close to me. Max rested his head on my shoulder but still sat silent.
Was he hurt? Like, bad? Did he know what was wrong and isn't telling me?
The ambulance showed up, as well as the police. Max was put in the back of the ambulance but I stayed back to explain things to the cops. I finished up and hopped into the back of the ambulance.
"You feeling any better?" I asked. There was no answer. "Max." Again, there was no answer. I sat next to him and set my hand on his knee. "Tell me what's wrong."
Max just shook his head. He knew. He knew exactly what was wrong and he was just refusing to tell me. It was something bad. I knew it...
Max lightly tapped his chest and started coughing. His coughs got louder and louder before little droplets of blood specked out of his mouth and nose.
"M-max?!" I yelled, grabbing his shoulders and looking into his eyes. "What is going on?!"
A paramedic rushed over and shoved me out of the way. We arrived at the hospital and Max was rushed to the emergency room, leaving me behind in the waiting room.
What was going on?! Was he dying?! I needed to know!
A nurse walked over to me. "Who are you waiting for?" She asked politely. "Max Joseph." I answered.
The nurse hesitated before quietly speaking, "Why don't you head home. We will call you once we have information."
They aren't letting me stay...?
I headed back to the hotel and looked at the clock. "10:03?" I uttered to myself. "Better go to sleep."
I got ready for bed and I soon dozed off. But, I got a call at about midnight. "Hello?"
I dropped my phone to the ground and choked. "No...." I breathed, soon rushing back to the hospital.
