Cause And Effect.

chapter four

{Big huge trigger warning}

It seemed like Issac had it out for Max. He was constantly criticising him and leaving him out. Calling him names.

Brigitta tried to help Max... but she didn't know how... he was falling fast. And it was visible now. He was a mess. He wore sweatpants and t-shirts all the time. His hair was usually a mess. He never smiled.

Anne didn't know what to do. She tried to talk to him. There were only two people who could make him smile even just a little. Walter was one of them, obviously. But the other was his new friend.

Liesel.

The Hubermanns spent quite sometime with the Vandenburgs/Hollands. Liesel and Max were quickly growing quite found of each other. He'd feel like giving up, be at his lowest, and Liesel Memminger would run into his room and surprise him in someway. It brightened his day to see her.

One day, the day he needed her... somebody... anybody.., no one was there.

The day Issac told him he was worthless. The day Issac told him he was better off dead. The day Issac told him he was unwanted here. The day Issac texted him these things from where he worked. Max sat on his bed, staring at the little words on the screen. Tears filled his eyes.

He'd been contemplating for a while on weather or not to do it... weather it was the right decision...

But that day... he made up his mind. He got up, moving swiftly to the bathroom. He reached in the medicine cabinet and grabbed a full, brandnew bottle of pain pills. He then went and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

He moved back to his room and sat on his bed, staring at the pills. He opened the bottle and pour them in his hand. He closed his eyes and downed the handful. Then he looked in the bottle. There was more... he downed what was left, tears now falling over his face. He reached over to his night stand with trembling hands and grabbed a hold of a razor blade.

This wasn't the first time he'd selfharmed... but he was hoping it was the last.

He started... and then he couldn't stop. His arm was covered in fresh marks before he stopped himself, Now sobbing uncontrollably. He grabbed his phone and texted Walter.

~

Walter recieved two texts.

"I love you."

Followed by

"I'm sorry."

It was enough to compel him to go and check on Max. With Every second that passed, Walter's stress level rose. He tried Calling Max... no answer. Text.. no answer.

So he called his mom.

"Hello?"

"Anne?"

"Walter? Are you cry- sweetie what's wrong?"

"Max won't answer his phone and... and he text me and he said that he loved me and that he was sorry and he always answers his phone, Anne... he has never missed one of my calls..."
There was a silence. Anne suddenly felt sick.

"Go to our house. There is a key under the welcome mat, just go in and check on him." She said, her voice quivering softly as she spoke. Her heart was beating against her chest at a mile and minute.

"Okay.. okay I will..."

And so Walter drove, disobeying every speed limit and stop sign. He drove as fast as the car would go and hurried to the home.

He practically sprinted to the front door. Unlocking it as quick as possible, he dashed inside. "Max?!" He yelled. The house was otherwise silent. "Max!?"

He searched the house over. The last room he checked was Max's. And when he saw max lying there... his arm tattered, and empty bottle of pain killers and the floor, he fell apart.

He called 911 and frantically explained the situation. Max had been on his bed. But somehow, he wound up on the floor. Walter put the phone on speaker and set it on the floor. He gently pulled Max into his arms, holding on for dear life. He was limp and lifeless... but he was still warm. He was still alive. "God, hold on, Max." Walter cried. "Just... hold on. Hold on.. you're okay. You are okay."