Sorry for not updating in a while. I've been really busy and I wasn't feeling in the mood to write Chryed due to the fact I have not been in the Chryed mood (due to lack of screen time and storylines that do not inspire me). However I have decided to try and finish this story as I did enjoy writing it.

This is just a short chapter to get me back into the swing of things again.

Chapter 14

Syed felt sick. As he walked back home, he could feel the nausea rise in his throat. Aching for some relief, he made himself vomit into the nearest bin. He wanted to go home, not to Daniel and their flat, but home, back to his family. He was so confused. After Christian had left, he had realised that he didn't just like Christian; he was in love with him. He sat down on the wooden bench by the playground, wishing that he had met Christian first. Wishing that James didn't exist, wishing that Daniel would leave him.

Syed's phone vibrated and a message popped up on the screen.

'Goodbye Syed. I wish things could have been different. For what I'm about to do, don't blame yourself'

Syed's insides froze. No, he can't have. No, oh please no. Scrambling to his feet, Syed ran as fast as he could in the direction of their flat. His breathing was heavy and he felt unsteady on his feet but he didn't care. He had to get home. Daniel's past words pierced into his skull like nails.

"I think I'd kill myself"

Arriving at the flat he quickly unlocked the door and ran inside, praying that he wasn't too late.

"Daniel! Daniel!" Syed screamed, frantically trying to locate him. "Daniel! Daniel!"

He ran into the bedroom, the bathroom, and the spare room, desperately searching. There was no sign of Daniel.

Pulling out his phone, he dialled Daniel's number. No answer. He pressed redial. No answer. He tried again and again. No answer. Exhaustion and terror eventually overwhelmed him and he collapsed onto the cold floor in tears.

XXXX

Syed had spent the entire night on the sofa by the phone, pleading, praying for it to ring and for Daniel's voice to be at the other end. The phone had not rung once.

Syed didn't know what to do. He felt so helpless and alone. He had wanted to call Daniel's parents, to ask if they had seen him, but his mum was ill, and he didn't have their phone number anyway. Daniel had deleted it from his phone weeks ago, saying that they had changed their number. It had only just occurred to him that Daniel had never told him their new number. Not that it mattered anyway. What would he have told them? That their son might be lying dead somewhere and it was all his fault…he had driven Daniel to hurt himself…he should have been more supportive…he should have gone home to talk to Daniel instead of talking to Christian…instead of feeling sorry for himself…

Syed's phone vibrated and he snatched it up off the table, willing it to be Daniel.

"Syed, it's me. I'm in hospital"