"Straight"

your demons are strong but you're stronger

"Mrs. and Mr. Lester?"

"Yes? We're here."

"He's alive. We got enough blood back into his system. He will just need to stay here for a while longer and talk to some psychologists. We're putting Daniel on suicide watch while he is here and we suggest getting him into therapy immediately."

"Thank you so much. When can we see him?"

"He needs to rest right now, but you may come back tomorrow and visit him."

"Alright. Thanks again."

***

Phil sits next to Dan's hospital bed with tears in his eyes. It feels like they've been in this place so many times, and Phil is sick of coming here. The smell of hospitals just reminds him of the horrible things that happen here. People lose their loved ones here. 

But some get to see their loved ones get saved. 

"Ph-Phil...? Dammit, Phil..."

"Dan? Oh my God, Dan! Don't do that to me ever again... please," the raven haired boy whimpers as he kisses Dan's forehead.

"I'm s-sorry... for putting y-you through this," the broken boy whispers feebly, eyes barely open.

Phil breaks out in tears and holds onto Dan like his life depends on it. Mrs. and Mr. Lester watch the two sadly, not quite sure how to comfort either of them. 

The two crying teenagers clutch each other with shaking shoulders, neither one daring to let go. Phil is Dan's angel, his saving grace. All he can think of is how selfish it was of him to try to leave the one person he loves. 

"Th-thank you f-for saving me," he murmurs into Phil's shoulder, who in return pulls away and looks into his chocolate colored eyes. 

"I'm so glad I did. I love you so much, Danny." 

"I love you, too." 

Both boys smile with tears rolling down their cheeks as they realize that, for once since the accident with his father, the brunette didn't stutter. 

***

Jolting awake, I look around the room in a panic. Phil is asleep next to me in bed. I've only been out of the hospital for two days, and things have already been getting worse. My eyes dart around the dark room nervously. My nightmares seem so real sometimes.

Looking down at my bandage bound wrists, I wonder what my life has come to. Phil rolls over on his side next to me and makes a small whimpering sound in his sleep. 

I hope to God that the traumatic experience I put him through doesn't give him nightmares like mine. Knowing my luck, it probably did. 

Wrapping my arms around the discomforted boy, I hold him tightly and kiss his cheek. 

"Dan..." I hear him murmur unconsciously.

"It's okay, I'm here," I whisper back, though he probably can't hear me in his sleep. 

I wish I could hold him forever. I don't want to let him go. Ever. But time moves by so quickly, even though it may not feel like it in the moment. Days are long but years are short, and once the time has gone by, it can never come back. 

It reminds me of a song I once heard. 

Hey, hey

Wouldn't it be great, great

If we could just lay down

And wake up in Slowtown

Today, day