The Mess with the Message

Chapter 4: Saving a dead man

The following chapter contains instances of depression among the youth, suicidal thoughts and mental health issues. If you're reading this take care of yourself and ask for professional help if you personally relate with the struggles. Special thanks to my friend Anna for helping me out with the ideas. I hope you have fun reading the most emotional chapter yet.

Owen Montgomery

He was a smart kid. Not the smartest but his grades weren't as bad as Louis'. Anyone who sees him will conclude that he's the perfect teenager. He was handsome. The kind that was rare to find. He was the type that didn't have to do much to attract anyone for attention, though attention was one thing he gave zero chills about. His talent in music was impeccable. He was arguably one the best in the band. Owen (or Monty) as many preferred to call him was embodied with the kindest of hearts. He was selfless and generous. He didn't have much but he gave the most. He knew what it was like to ,the feeling itself t gave him the urge to always be a giver.

But deep down, Monty was broken. His life had been a turmoil. His parents died when he was 10. That day was engraved on his mind like epitaph on a tombstone. He remembered his dad,a drunkard coming home drunk as a fish. As it was his daily routine, they'd have a fight with his mum who was only a housewife. Monty,as young as he was,knew very well what was going on. During times like that,all he had to do was go to the closet, close himself up and wait for the fight to stop. He would timidly go downstairs and prepare himself something to eat. But something unusual happened that day,he could recall his mum packing up her things as she threatened to leave. His dad on the other side was hurling insults vowing to commit murder if anyone dared to leave that house. As Monty's mum approached the door, Monty heard a loud gunshot. Something that still echoed in his head till now. In the next second, his mum was lying in a pool of blood trying to gasp for breath. His dad seeing what he had done, pointed the gun to his head and shot himself. Monty was left there, trying to decipher what was really happening. All he could do was to scream for help. That was the most traumatic thing a 10 year old boy could have to go through.
Monty was taken to foster care where his life was hell. He was treated more like a stray dog and less like an animal. At the age of 17 he decided to move out and support himself through college. He did odd jobs (still he does) to enable him survive in this cruel world. His student loans were on the brim. In short, Monty was a mess. He was on the verge of a mental breakdown . All that had happened in his life was coming back to him like a ghost.
According to him,his only remaining option was to take away his own life. What was the point of living when you're dead inside? Why should he exist in a world where he felt he was worthless, with no family and barely having friends no one would really care if he really disappeared from the face of the earth. There was no use to continue living, life itself was his biggest enemy.

Monty went to the drug store, bought some antibiotics and was ready to end it all. Just as he was about to swallow them, Carlos popped in. He couldn't believe what he saw. The pills on the table, the letter and the obviously depressed Owen. He was dumbfounded and all he could do was to give Owen a tight hug as he couldn't figure out what exactly was his supposed say.

"I need to tell you something, promise me no one will ever know about this?" Owen said as he tried to rub off the tears in his eyes.
"Yes sure, you can trust me Monty. " Carlos answered.

It was at that moment that Owen decided to open up and share all that was killing him inside.
" Monty, you could have told me before. You know that I love you bro. Carlos said as he tried to be as calm as possible.
" I couldn't bro,I just couldn't. I'm really fucked up. I just want to end it all. " Owen broke down again.
"You now got me bro. I'll protect you"
It was at that moment that Owen knew that he had to lose himself and find a new part of him. They both called it a night. Owen asked Carlos to spend the night,he couldn't say no. That marked the beginning of a new friendship one that will shock everyone.

***
Carlos De La Cruz
A stubborn boy,yes. A stupid boy,no. He was the most complicated yet the most simple. He was a mixture of salt and sugar. A mixture of New York and LA. The more you think you knew him, the less you actually knew who he was. Girls loved him. Boys wanted to be him. He was 19. His dad was a prolific writer with two New York Times bestsellers. His mum owned a Michelin star restaurant in Chicago. His life from anyone's perspective was a wonderland.
Despite being in the 7th relationship, Carlos felt he still lacked something, something he himself didn't know. He was good in love, good in bed ( no one ever complained) but still that wasn't satisfying enough. Everything in his life seemed figured out but his love life was a complete disaster to him.
***
Carlos was shocked to see all those pills in the table. Evidently, Owen was planning to kill himself. But why? Owen wasn't the kind that would open up but still not the kind that would kill himself. Shocked beyond words,all he could do was to give him a hug. He felt sorry for him. Owen was a good guy and whatever was going on with him, he didn't deserve to go thru it alone. Eventually, Owen opened up to him. All he could do was to let tears flow. He knew at that moment that he wanted to be the best friend Owen's ever had. He spent the night at Owen's vowing to protect him from himself. That marked the beginning of something great.