Erin had been coming down to my basement headquarters every night and helping me dig. It had been nice to have help, and to have someone to listen to me rant, even if it meant she had to listen to me trash her parents. I'd complain about them. I'd complain about the AMA. I'd complain about the military. Whatever I could think of that I disliked I'd rant about it to Erin. And she always listened.
"Back again, Squirt?" I asked, still digging my way to freedom (and really thirsty).
"You need to drink something."
"I'm fine, Erin," I replied, swallowing down my minimal saliva. "Really."
"My dad's a doctor. I know what I'm talking about."
"So is mine, until the AMA finds out-" You total idiot, Beck. Maybe I was losing my mind from by abstinence.
"It's okay," Erin surprised me by saying. "My mom told me."
"How did she know?"
"Daddy told her."
"Who told him?"
"I dunno."
"We're so screwed."
"Yeah."
Clink. Clink.
"Drink something, Beck."
"No. I won't."
"Beck-"
"I don't want a lecture. Clear off."
It was only a few minutes after Erin left that I collapsed.
I turned back to check on Beck a bit later and I found her lying on the floor unconscious.
I tried to tell her, honest I did! And I forgot what to do because part of me knew I had to get help but I couldn't just leave her there alone so I just stood there screaming until someone came.
I don't know if it was hunger or thirst or lack of sleep that did it, but she was going to be okay, I knew it.
If Beck couldn't do it no-one could.