Broken Vows and Empty Promises

Black

The sunlight woke me the next morning, and it took me a second to remember where I was, and I blushed. I was under the makeshift covers with Newt. I squirmed out thinking

Why did I do that?

I guess my squirming out of the covers woke Newt, and he softly moaned.

" Min, it hurts"

He was getting weaker. His face had taken on a sheen of sweat, and he must have lost way too much blood. He was getting so weak, he could barely speak.

" I know Newt, I know. I found these pain meds in the kitchen, do you want to try them?"

Newt nodded,

" Anything has to be better than the pain."

Newt forced out. Just saying that sentence looked like it drained him. and I helped him sit up against the wall. I gave him one of our last bottles of water, and what was left of the medicine. He gulped them down with some trouble, and then I gave him a little food and he drank the rest of the water. While he was nibbling some chips ( what I thought were closest to crackers, of which I have a vague memory of eating when I didn't feel well ) I ate some food too. About a half hour later, I was sitting with Newt, trying to distract him by talking to him, and he had fallen asleep leaning on me. I think I had fallen into an uneasy sleep, when I felt Newt's body grow stiff, and I looked over at him blearily, still half asleep. His face had suddenly changed. His mouth, which had been a painful grimace, turned into a straight line, his eyes got wider, and his body grew stiffer.

" Newt? You okay?"

I muttered. Newt responded by crawling a few feet away, and vomiting up what was in his stomach.

What?

What just happened?

My mind wasn't fully on yet, until I heard the retching. Realizing what was going on I recoiled in shock, now fully awake, I rushed over to Newt, rubbing his back and whispering to him as he heaved. Oh, god what was happening to Newt?

" Shh, It's going to be okay, It'll be over soon, you're doing great Newt . . ."

As he violently retched, his whole body contorting. I pulled his hair back with one hand, rubbed his back with the other hand, and kept whispering things into his ear, until after what seemed like an eternity, he stopped.

Newt looked up at me, swayed, and almost fainted into the vomit. And he would have if I hadn't caught him, and carried him back to the rug bridal style. Either it was the fever, or the expired medicine. Or. . . No, no, no. I wouldn't think of that possibility. The possibility that he had the flare. Something was off, though. What Newt emptied out of his stomach was black, and clumpy. Thinking about that combined with the smell of the sour-sweet vomit, made me want to gag. I tried to fight my gag reflex, but my body had gone through too much, and it didn't work. I covered my mouth, and bolted to the triangular hole, and leaned over it. I leaned out as far as I could, pushing on the edge, my hands having a death grip on the cement, trying to get fresh air. Then, trying to hold in the vomit for so long backfired. Without warning, I threw up everything I had eaten in the past couple days out of the triangle hole, and onto the cement, 10 feet below. After I finished vomiting, I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, and stood up. Newt must have noticed, and looked concerned.

" You . . . okay?"

Oh god, this was the last thing I wanted Newt to feel; like he was responsible for me, while he very well could be dying. I didn't want him to feel like I needed his help, when really, he was the one who needed my help.

" Yeah, Newt I'm fine, don't worry."

Luckily, we still had pants left. Shuck, those things were coming in handy. I grabbed two pairs, and put them over the black puddle, fighting the urge to gag again, and used another pant sleeve to wipe Newt's face off. Luckily, the smell would soon filter out of the hole. Newt was looking even worse now. His face was ashen gray, his whole body shivering and quaking, his eyes just barely open, and the pant leg I had tied around his leg to stop the bleeding had grown red. I knew then, I just knew. Newt didn't have much time left. I had to find medicine. Soon. I decided I would do it tomorrow, while Newt was asleep. Should I tell him? I don't want him to worry, but if I don't, what if he wakes up and finds I'm gone? What if I tell him I'm looking for food? That might work, and then he won't feel like he's being a burden. Okay, tomorrow then. What do I say to Newt? Bye, I might never see you again, but I have to go get some food. Bye!

No, no, no, no. I have to remember this is newt I'm talking to, he isn't gonna fall for this klunk. Maybe something simpler.

Newt, I gotta go look for some food, okay? I'll be right back.

Yeah, that was better.

" Minho, can you stay with me?"

" Of course Newt, I'll always be with you."

Not tomorrow. Tomorrow I won't be with him. Tomorrow I'll be looking for medicine