Inside Out

Chapter 7

(Trigger Warning: Severe abuse, scuicide, and rape)
    “Dan! Don’t hang up! Please!” Phil shouted into the phone, praying for him to listen but he didn’t. Dan ended the call. Phil was already on his way to him. He’d begun running the moment Dan started talking weird. He ran so fast Ryan didn’t have time to do a thing. Phil called Dan, praying he’d pick up. This is all his fault. He’d only wanted to defend Ryan. He didn’t want to lose Dan. Oh god, he’d been ignoring him. Dan was small and fragile and he’d tossed him aside just to be with his new boyfriend and now Dan’s thinking about killing himself. He ran all the way to the highway before realising he has no idea where Dan’s house is. He’d never gone. They’d always gone to Phil’s. Phil quickly dialed 999.
“999 what’s your emergency?” spoke a woman.
“I think my friend is trying to kill himself but I don’t know where he is!”
“Alright sir. Stay calm. Can you give me his number?”
“Yes, it’s 579-4567.”
“Okay thank you. We are tracing the call and will text you his location. Please stay on the line.”
“Alright.”
    Phil could feel his heart racing a mile a minute as he stood there and waited. It didn’t take long before he heard his phone ding. Immediately he checked it and just as he thought, it was Dan’s location. He knew that road actually. It’s the same street Ryan lives on. He darted down the street, running as fast as his feet could carry him, forgetting about the woman he had on the phone until he reached Dan’s house. He stopped to breathe and put it up to his ear. “I’m here.” He informed her before running through the door, invading every room he could. Eventually he reached Dan’s. He threw it open only to find Dan with a rope around his neck, hanging from the cieling.
“Oh my god, Dan!” Phil shouted. He dropped his phone and ran to the kitchen grabbing the largest knife he could find. He then set up the chair Dan knocked down, climbed on, and cut the rope in one fluid motion. Like a ragdoll, Dan crumpled to the ground. Phil jumped down after him pulling off the rope before pressing two fingers to his neck. He still has a pulse. Thank god. Phil watched as Dan’s chest slowly began to rise and fall once more. He’s breathing. Phil pulled Dan’s head into his lap, brushing his hand through his fringe.
    Dan must have been close to death. His skin is slowly filling back up with colour, and his eyes are sunken in, along with a large red ring around his neck. That will probably bruise. In addition to all this, he’s so skinny Phil could wrap his hand around Dan’s forearm. How could he have let this happen to him? His closest friend. He needs Dan and Dan needs him. It’s only now the ambulance arrive. They rush in and check his pulse and breathing just as Phil had before lifting him up on a gurney, hauling him into the truck. Phil followed close behind, they even allowed him to ride along to the hospital. Once they got there they ran a few more tests before deciding that he would in fact be okay and should wake up soon. Phil pulled up a chair and waited by his bed. He figured Ryan was probably blowing up his phone right now and he regretted leaving it on Dan’s floor. Phil figured this would probably end up in a fight but none of that mattered right now. What mattered was Dan. He couldn’t believe he’d let it get this far. It wasn’t long until Dan finally woke up.
    “P-Phil?” He said, his voice scratchy. He’d probably done a bit of damage to his vocal chords. “Dan?!” Phil jumped up and hugged him,burying his face in his neck as tears sprung into his Dan. Dan was much slower to hold back as he was thoroughly confused. Judging by his surroundings Phil must’ve saved him somehow. Phil pulled back holding himself at arm's length in front of Dan.
“Don’t you ever do that again do you hear me?! I could’ve lost you! I almost did!”
Dan simply looked down. “I’m sorry.” He croaked, barely above a whisper. Phil sighed and hugged him again.
“You didn't do too much damage to yourself. You just needed air back in your lungs. The doctors said you can go home whenever you woke up. They also want to give you antidepressants.
“I can’t take those.”
“Why not?”
“I have the throat of a rabbit. I always end up choking when I take the tiniest of pills.”
Phil sighs, this boy. He'd fallen for this boy but he refused to admit. All because of that bump in between them named Ryan. Phil hated him; Phil loved him. But Dan…. He gave up questioning himself.
“Let’s get you home.”