Hide and Go Seek

8. Alan

I am a wreck and I know it. Max has always tried to help me and I am grateful to her for that but now it's my turn. Even though she has put up a facade that she is okay, I know she is not. She may not show it, but she was even more affected than I was. I just couldn't control my emotions, so she stepped up. But she can't see what is on the chat. It would push her over the edge. An edge she won't be able to climb back up on.

"Alan, I'm going to look." I try to cut her off but she puts her hand up stopping me so she can finish. "I have a right to know what happened. I understand It will be awful, and will probably hurt me, but I will be okay if you stay with me until the end. No matter what. Okay?"

I want to say no, I really do, but I know she will just look anyways and then she won't have me there to help her through it. I nod. I then immediately go to her and hug her. Supporting her. She looks at me, fear in her eyes.

"That bad, huh." she whispers shakily. I nod silently. I don't have a view of the phone but I have a view of her face as she pulls up the text. I can see the blood drain from her face. Her legs buckle, but I am there. I hold onto her more tightly as she leans on me.

I gently pry the device from her hands and toss it on the couch.

"Thank you" she says eventually. I just squeeze her more.

Now we know how the game works.