The first thing that Max was aware of was pain. She opened her eyes groggily to a faceful of brown blanket. She coughed reflexively and became aware of the odd position she was in. Still sat in the chair from the previous night, she was bent over awkwardly to her right to lay her head on Chloe's bed. She sat up a little too quickly and grimaced, the pain in her lower back now more noticeable. She stretched and her back clicked, the noise loud in the quiet of the room. She grimaced again and rubbed her back to try and ease the stiffness out of it, and noticed Chloe watching her with mild amusement.
"What time is it?" she asked.
"A little after eight," replied Chloe.
"You're awake early."
"I don't sleep much nowadays."
"Sorry. Hope I wasn't a bother."
"Not at all. I mean, it's not like I can prod you or lift my legs to wake you up."
"Sorry," said Max again, grimacing at her slip up.
"Don't be. I'm used to it. I'm stuck her every morning until Mom or Dad come to help me up. But I did sleep better last night than I had in a while. And I woke up this morning and you were still here. Magic."
"I cannot believe you fell asleep so fast. How dare you," said Max, her eyes twinkling. "Although, I crashed pretty hard, too, so I can't exactly talk."
"I know you were beat down after the day with me. And Blade Runner is a pretty dreamy movie to watch at night."
"True."
"So, do you think Deckard is a replicant?" When Max didn't answer, Chloe sniggered. "Sorry. I can see you're not wide awake like me."
"No, I'm sorry. Were you… okay?"
"Of course. I do have a mother and father when you're not falling asleep on me. They'll have come in last night and sorted us both out."
"You are a bitch in the morning," said Max, good-naturedly.
"It's the company I keep," shot Chloe, just as quickly. "Yesterday was such a blast. I haven't had that much fun since… well…"
"Since before your accident."
"Actually I was going to say since you were last here."
"Chloe…"
"Max, I'm so happy you're here. You have no idea."
Oh, perhaps I do.
"Chloe, stop, you're making me feel more awkward."
"Why?"
"You keep saying you're happy I'm here. I'm here because I want to be. Don't make me out to be some sort of hero."
"I'm really not, Max. I'm just… I'm sorry, I'm not trying to make you feel uncomfortable. It's just, I haven't seen you in such a long time and you're treating me the same as you always did. Even Mom and Dad don't do that. It's like, Max, you make me feel like I'm not a… not who I am now, but who I was then."
"It was great, seeing you."
"Max, I know things were different when we were just dorky kids, but being with you made me feel like when we were little pirates, jumping and running through the forests again. It meant a lot to me just to chill out with you again and bullshit. Ahh." Chloe closed her eyes and grimaced.
"You ok?"
"Fuck. No." Chloe was obviously in pain, and Max leaned in, concerned. "I'm getting my regular head pains. Um, could you please go upstairs and get my, uh, my morphine injector in the bathroom?"
"Morphine injector?"
"It's, ah… it's total Star Trek shit. You can't even see the needle." She looked across at Max, pleading. "Seriously Max, I need it. They, um, my parents keep the swag upstairs because they think I can't get to it. But you can, Max. Like a pirate. Right?"
"I'm on it, Chloe." Max rose and walked to the door. She looked back, her hand on the doorknob. "Don't go anywhere."
"Ha ha, Maxine." Chloe made a face and Max grinned, sticking her tongue out and going through the door into the living room. It was the same living room she knew and loved, but very different. It was far sparser. The sofa was still there, with a small television on the sideboard, they'd given Chloe the expensive HDTV and kept the small portable one for themselves. The dining room table, scene of the recent showdown with David Madsen was still there, but turned 90 degrees to the side, so William could sit and look out of the large window to the garden beyond. He was sat at the table right now, looking through a mound of paperwork and Chloe approached.
"Morning Mr Caulfield."
"Max." William looked up and smiled. "Since when have I been Mr Caulfield? Shall we try that again?"
"Morning, um, William."
"Much better."
"Am I bothering you?"
"Not at all, Max. Take a seat. I can use some company. Take my mind off this shit." Max sat down opposite William. "How can you bother me, Max? I haven't seen you in forever. Plus, I just love looking through endless bills." He paused for dramatic effect. "Kidding."
"Yeah, I got that."
"Well, look at you, young Maxine Caulfield. Max, I know. You've all growed up. Coffee?"
"Please."
"You know where it is. I've just boiled the kettle, so it should be hot." Max nodded and made herself a quick coffee, noticing the generic instant branded coffee. In fact, looking around the kitchen, most of the items were cheap and unbranded. The swear jar, more recently the Paris fund, usually half full was empty, used for a couple of lonely cookies now, and food coupons lay plastered over the worktop. Max also noticed a model Eiffel Tower standing proud. It certainly seemed that William and Joyce were struggling, and Max had to work hard not to let the guilt overwhelm her. She made a coffee and went back to join William at the table. He was reading the morning newspaper and handed it over to Max, who saw the front page dominated by the beached whales.
Beached Angels: Looking for the Whales
Whereas the shores of Arcadia Bay once acted as a lovely gateway to the Pacific and beyond, now locals and tourists face the sad, surreal image of grey whales that inexplicably swam to land… and to their doom. The whale pods were spotted early morning on Wednesday October 9th and within a few hours, many of them were dead or dying on the shore. Smartphone footage does not reveal any unusual ocean conditions or excessive pollution. Meanwhile, ecologists and marine biologists from across the country and carefully studying samples from the whales and environment. The Prescott Foundation has vowed to provide extra research funds given the local scope of this emergency…
Search for Popular Teen continues
Blackwell honour student Rachel Amber has not been seen or heard from for over six months, yet her family and friends intensified the search for the 18-year-old Arcadia Bay resident. Police and FBI have few leads and little information in the case, which has caught the interest of national reality show "Where Did They Go?" The Amber family has offered a reward for any information leading to the whereabouts of their daughter. For more details, please contact help
Max remembered that Chloe had mentioned that Rachel was still missing in this timeline.
Some things don't change. But it seems like more people are trying to find her here.
Max sipped her coffee and William watched her, smiling.
"What's on your mind, little lady?"
"I was impressed by Chloe's room and all the high-tech equipment."
"Yeah. High-tech equals high prices. We could buy a few mansions on the strength of those. I mean, the insurance helps but… I don't know, Max."
"I know it must be hard on you guys, financially."
"I won't lie to you, Max. These bills are getting on top of us. We have to re-mortgage our home and that's pretty scary. But we'll get through it. The Price is always right. Get it? No?"
Max smiled. "Yeah, I get it. I could never stand that show though."
"I remember. You and Chloe would scarper sharpish when it came on." William laughed, but it was a forced laugh.
"You finally made it to Paris, I see."
"Oui, as they say. Well, not me, because I can't speak French, but yeah. We went. It was a great experience, especially for Chloe."
"I can see her totally loving it there. You guys are awesome, going on a family adventure like that."
"She talked about going to school there, as well, but… well, that's not really practical anymore." William sighed, and it was a flat sigh, weighed down by all the bills and responsibilities he faced. "It's not fair, Max."
"I know, William." Max blinked, she could feel tears pushing through again. "I don't know how to say this, but I'm truly sorry about what happened to Chloe."
"Yeah, me too, Max, me too. But all it takes is a few minutes and one stupid driver to change a girl's whole life. But she's alive. That's the one positive thing we can take out of this. And, she's a trooper. He was drunk, did you know that?"
"Who?"
"The other driver. I know Chloe wasn't wearing her seatbelt and that didn't help, especially when it came to the insurance, but to be brutal, it wouldn't have helped her at the time. He was drunk, he was over the limit, he shouldn't have been anywhere near the wheel of a car, and he got up and walked away from the crash without a scratch."
"Oh god…"
"Yeah, we said similar, if less polite statements. He got done for it, though. DUI and dangerous driving, but all he got was a ban and a fine. And we saw nothing of the fine. No point in suing as he had no insurance and no way of paying anything."
"That is so unbelievably unfair, William."
"Yeah, you're not wrong there." There was a long silence while Max sipped her coffee. It was bitter, but she kept at it.
"Is she mad at me for not staying in touch more? I mean, I would be, I don't have any excuses."
"She was disappointed, but she knows you care. And look at you now. Now you're back in Arcadia, I'm hoping we'll be seeing a lot more of you?"
"Yeah. That's for definite, William. She's still my best friend, and I still love you and Joyce and I want to help in any way I can." She hesitated. "Well, not financially, sorry. I would, but I'm scraping the barrel as it is." William smiled sadly. "But I'll always be here for Chloe. Always."
"I know you will, and you also know we wouldn't take a penny off you, Max. There are some things that money can't buy, and your love and friendship is just that. I know you love Chloe, and I know you would have been in touch more. I also know how hard it is to process all of this. It's taken us years. I saw how you were yesterday, even though you knew. It's hard, Max, there's no two ways about it." He looked down at the bills and shook his head. "And it's getting harder. And Joyce has had to take two jobs. The Two Whales is great, but the tips just don't cover it, and I hate to think she's pandering to the Prescotts at Pan Estates."
"You know the Prescotts?"
"More than I'd like. Joyce hates it there, but we don't really have a choice."
"What do you think of them?"
"Evil. Next question?"
Max nodded at the paper. "You think they'll find Rachel?"
"The missing girl? She went to Blackwell, didn't she? To be honest, Max, I know it sounds harsh, but all I care about now is Joyce and Chloe. I really don't have the time or motivation for anyone else. I hope they find her though. I sometimes think, and fear that… that we'll lose Chloe. I try not to, of course, but it's always there at the back of my mind. Another coffee?"
"Thanks, but I really should see if Chloe needs anything else."
"Sure. Feel free to pull me away from these bills whenever you want."
Max rose, heading towards the stairs. On the way past, she'd seen the top letter that William was dealing with. All she saw was that it was from the bank; she saw the words 'house', 'foreclosure', and '$12,000'.
Shit, they're going to lose the home? That's… too much. Surely that can't be allowed to happen. What would happen to Chloe then? Her high-tech lair?
She climbed the stairs, after noticing another pile of bills by the front door. At the top of the stairs, she paused outside Chloe's bedroom. Well, her Chloe's bedroom. It was painted white, with no warning on the door in this timeline. She couldn't help herself; she opened the door and slipped inside.
Just like when she'd gone to Chloe's room Monday afternoon for the first time in years, she was hit by a wave of nostalgia, but this time tinged with an unutterable sadness.
The room was empty. A shell.
Bare wooden floor, bare walls, empty shelves and the empty 'super-secret lair' closet. No desk, no piles of clothes, no bed, no table. No CD player, no posters, CDs. Nothing. There was a large mattress stood up against the far wall, where the bed would have been, and many boxes lying around the room. Max couldn't help herself. She slid down against the door until she was sitting on the floor, her knees hunched up against her body, she held her head in her hands and let the tears flow; she couldn't hold them in any more, and Chloe wasn't there to see them. She just sat there, a lonely girl surrounded by memories that no-one else had, sobbing her heart out.
It's not fucking fair! This is not fucking fair at all! I was supposed to make things better, but all I've done is screw up even more! And all I can feel is guilt for putting Chloe, Joyce and William through all of this. Could I go back and do it again? Perhaps give Chloe a choice of keeping William alive? No, that would be unbelievably cruel. And they're a family again. Who am I to judge?
When she'd calmed down, she took a quick look around the room. In amongst the sealed boxes were a couple of letters from family members, some sending money, some explaining why they can't send money, but all wishing Chloe the best. There was even a pair of unused crutches in the corner, which started Max off crying again.
Oh man, they bought Chloe crutches. They thought she might be able to walk again.
She found the strength to get up again and leave the room, heading for the bathroom, but before she could get there, she heard her name being called from the other bedroom. Summoning all her reserves of strength, she opened the door to see Joyce sat on the bed, reading a magazine.
"Max, I thought that was you. Come over here, my darling." She patted the bed next to her and Max climbed up to sit next to her. Joyce put the magazine down and embraced Max with an amazingly tender, warm, motherly hug. "I heard you crying. Did you go into Ch… the bedroom?"
"Yes. I'm sorry, Joyce," said Max, beginning to cry again, "I'm so, so, sorry."
"It wasn't your fault, Max, the fact that you're here now, back in our lives is great. You know that William and I consider you our second daughter, and you know Chloe just loves you."
"I know that, Joyce, I love her too. It's all so… unfair." sniffed Max.
"There, there, Max, it's okay. Let it all out. I know how strong you've been for Chloe yesterday; you can let it all out now. It's fantastic to see you and Chloe back together again." She smiled. "You're both quieter now that when you were kids."
"I wish I was a better friend, Joyce. Talking to Chloe now… she doesn't get many visitors. It seems like people were afraid of her."
"Yeah, well, you know how it is. Or not. Actually, I hope you don't know, Max. You're Chloe's best friend for a reason. You're here exactly when she needs you."
"I hope so, Joyce," said Max, Joyce still holding her.
"But you know, as parents we can only do so much. And she can get sick of us all the time. She needs you, Max. That's why it's important you came to spend time with her."
"I'll be here a lot more now, Joyce, if that's ok with you and William."
"You know you don't have to ask, Max, but Chloe's… her condition isn't improving. Her respiratory system is very weak and she… she… do you know what I'm saying, Max?"
"Joyce, I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this."
"Max, bad or good, I embrace every moment I spend with my daughter and my husband. This is what it means to be a family. And we'll always be one, no matter what."
"How are you doing?"
"I'm doing the best I can, Max, but it's difficult. But since when has life been easy, eh?"
"Plus you have to work, too."
"Yeah, Bill and I work more than we live. Bills don't pay themselves. I've even had to take a part-time gig at Pan Estates. Shit, that place is nasty. That Sean Prescott won't be happy until he owns everything around here. And take a tip from me, Max. Stay away from his son, Nathan."
"Yeah. Um, do you know anyone named David Madsen? He, uh, might hang out at the Two Whales?"
"Wow, that was random, Max. Yeah, I know him. Bus driver. Cute. Quiet. Why?"
"No reason. Just… curious."
"You always were, Max. Nice to see that not everything changes." Once Max had calmed down again, she got up and bid farewell to Joyce, who picked up her magazine again. Max quickly slipped into the bathroom and found the morphine injector in one of the cupboards. She also found a letter near the sink which explained some of what Joyce was trying to tell Max.
Dear Mr and Mrs Price.
As we discussed last week, Chloe's respiratory system is showing signs of rapid weakening. This accounts for her recent anaemia and loss of breath. As a doctor, I am committed to her well-being, but I want you to understand the reality that respiratory failure is common in people with sever spinal injuries. Your daughter is one of the bravest, strongest patients I've ever had and I'm proud to be working with her. I just want you as parents to prepare for any and all possibilities. I believe Chloe should also be made aware of her changing condition. If you would like to discuss this further, you have my contact information.
Best,
Dr Anton Phibes
Oh Chloe, I didn't realise you were… getting worse. Now I know what Joyce meant.
Halfway down the stairs, Max's phone buzzed and she clapped her hand to her forehead. Her texts! That would give her a clue as to what's going on, surely. She sat down on the stairs and pulled her phone out, checking all her messages and previous conversations.
[VICTORIA]: Max, you busy girl?
[MAX}: Avoiding homework as usual.
[VICTORIA]: I told you I'd help you out. You never let me help.
[MAX}: Ok, drama. Stop. And you help me by caring.
[VICTORIA]: BTW I scored that killer bud from you-know-who. FYI
[MAX]: Save me a bowl. Gotta bounce. TTYL
[VICTORIA]: Come by my room tonight.
…
[VICTORIA]: Max are we cool? Just wanted to make sure since you walked away so fast. Nathan was worried too. If you want to talk, hit me up, k? Love U!
[VICTORIA]: Max, if you're mad, just tell me, k?
[VICTORIA]: Silence. So if you want to talk, my door is open. Love U!
Are we best friends? Seriously? She loves me? Does that mean… No, surely not.
…
[CHLOE]: Hi Max. This is William. If you want to contact Chloe, you can use this number, she would love to hear from you. See you soon I hope. Bye.
[MAX]: Hey Chloe. Maxine here. I know it's been a while. I just wanted to let you know I'm going to Blackwell Academy now. I hope this is still your number.
[CHLOE]: MAX IS BACK! Blackwell? That is so awesome! You rule! Best of all we can hang again! So yes, this is my number.
[MAX]: Cool. I've got a buttload of homework but we'll get together soon.
[CHLOE]: Don't tease me! It's been too long!
[MAX]: I know. I'll see you soon.
[CHLOE]: (^ ^) /
Emojis from Chloe? And she doesn't like 'hella'? Would I have contacted her had William not made the first move? I really hope so.
…
[ALYSSA]: Hey Max, it's a shame that you hang out with those people, I thought you were different.
[MAX]: Alyssa, I saw you throw that TP at me.
[ALYSSA]: OMG, I was so not aiming at you. I SWEAR.
[MAX]: Don't do it again, or you'll be sorry.
That was the beginning of October. We haven't talked in a month? Kate said pretty much the same thing.
…
[TAYLOR]: Max, thanks again for taking me to see my mom. I think she wants you for a daughter instead of me.
[MAX]: I think not. Your mom is a badass. Like you.
[TAYLOR]: Yeah right. I cried like a bitch.
[MAX]: So did I. You just didn't see me. It's okay to cry.
[TAYLOR]: It gets old. My stupid phone is about to die so
[MAX]: Call me back.
Taylor's mom is in the hospital? I wonder if that's the case in my timeline, too.
…
[NATHAN]: Yo yo Max. U around
[MAX}: In the dark room. Developing shots for the contest.
[NATHAN]: Sweeeet. So no Two Whales for U
[MAX]: Not yet. I'll see you guys later tho.
[NATHAN]: Peace out.
Fuck I'm friends with Nathan too? And he's friends with me. No fucking way!
…
[MOM]: Max this is your mom. We need to talk about some of your bills.
[MOM]: Are you there?
[MAX]: Yes! Give me some time to answer! I can't just text in every class. Some teachers get super pissed when people use their phone.
[MOM]: Yes, because it's super rude. And please don't be so snippy.
[MAX]: Sorry, long day of homework.
[MOM]: You're not the only one. And that's why we're wondering if you need to spend so much. We want you to have everything you need but your scholarship doesn't cover everything.
[MAX]: You said I could use your credit card when I needed it! I only bought film, not a camera.
[MOM]: Maybe it's time to go digital.
[MAX]: I'll call you later, I have to go.
[MOM]: Don't pout. Love you.
Man, I'm… I don't like who I am in this timeline. I really don't like me at all. This is all… wrong. I'm a bitch to my parents, my friends, about the only person I care about is Chloe, but it seems I had to be prodded by William to get in touch. Shit, I need to do something about this.
Max headed down the stairs and back into Chloe's room, feeling more than a little guilty over the time she took to get the injector. Chloe looked up as she entered the room, and her face lit up, despite the pain.
"Finally," she said, struggling to breathe a little, "gimme the blue pill, Max."
"Um, how do I…" started Max. "I'm nosey, not precise."
"Oh yeah. You just plug it in up there," said Chloe. "It's easy. And painless."
"Ok, but get ready to yell for your folks if I screw it up."
"Trust me, I will. But I have faith in you, Max. I know you'll do the right thing." Max plugged the injector in and Chloe face relaxed as the pain went away. "Of course, my pain just keeps getting worse. You caught me on a good day yesterday. Max, I'm so grateful that I'm even able to hang out with you." She smiled wistfully. "See, I'm even getting mushy. I'm already high."
"You are so adorable," said Max. "Can I get you anything else?"
"Yeah. I've got a couple of things I want you to see. Can you grab that photo album over there? It's in the drawer." Max nodded and opened the drawer that Chloe was indicating. There was a photo album there, and two sheets of paper with Chloe's name on them. The first was a report card, showing Chloe as a straight A student. The second was a letter to the family from Principal Wells.
Blackwell Academy. August 8th 2011
Dear Mr and Mrs Price
As Principal, I am in sympathy with your numerous requests for Chloe's special needs in regards to her wheelchair and class accessibility, etc. Blackwell prides itself on making sure students with disabilities receive full compliance under the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, given that the campus and buildings have all been constructed pre-1977, our school has not yet undergone the modern renovation necessary to fulfil all the needs of your daughter and her regrettable condition. Sadly, with recent deplorable federal cuts in education, it will take many more fundraisers to fully update Blackwell Academy. But that day will come!
Chloe is without a doubt an amazing student with great potential despite her handicap and I believe she would find a more fitting, rewarding scholastic environment at the H. West Miskatonic Institute in Bolton. They have a rich legacy of disabled graduates and I know that Chloe would achieve her usual academic leadership in more comfortable surroundings. With her outstanding GPA, there is no doubt that Miskatonic would welcome Chloe with open halls.
I hope you will seriously consider this suggestion as I'm sure your daughter would prefer to attend a school that can cater to her many needs. In the same spirit, I've also enclosed brochures for other potential schools in the Oregon region. If you have any questions, please contact my office.
Sincerely,
Principal Wells.
Max gritted her teeth as she read the letter, able now to see exactly what it was saying. Wells just didn't want the hassle; he didn't want Chloe at Blackwell.
In any timeline, that man is a total bastard. I have absolutely no compunctions now about letting Chloe swipe that bullshit fund money.
She picked up the album and went back to Chloe, who noticed her annoyance.
"You saw the letter?"
"Yeah. Wells is a bastard."
"It's all about the money, Max. If we had money, he'd have been all over us. But no, instead we… I was costing him money. Anyway, open the album. I want to check some old pictures of you and me." Max opened the album and laid it on the bed, looking up at Chloe to make sure she could see ok. "Yeah, that's fine, Max. Oh my god, look how little we are there! We look like toys."
"I remember that day. By the lighthouse." Max giggled and Chloe joined in.
"My dad was pissed at us. He totally tried to give us a time-out!"
"And you laughed at him! My dad would have banished us!" She turned the page and smiled.
"Whoa, awesome," said Chloe. "We look so badass in our pirate gear."
"Yeah, we should totally have taken over Arrrrrcadia Bay when we had the chance," said Max, laughing. It was infectious, and Chloe couldn't help but laugh as well.
"There's still time for you," said Chloe, when she'd calmed down, and Max looked at her awkwardly, not knowing how to respond.
After a few seconds of uncomfortable silence, she turned the page again to see a very familiar photograph.
"Oh man, there we are making pancakes," said Chloe. "I love that shot. It's hard to believe my dad only took that five years ago. Just before you had to leave for Seattle."
"Yeah, I remember that picture well. Literally only seems like yesterday."
"I wish it was."
"Me too," said Max.
"It's funny, but I remember you being a bit weird that day. You went on and on about dad taking the bus, then you started jumping up and down shouting something insane about being awesome. Funny what sticks in your mind, isn't it?"
This is the photo I travelled back through! Could I… make things right?
There was another uncomfortable silence, and Max looked up at Chloe, who was looking at her with an intense gaze.
"Listen Max," said Chloe, and immediately Max knew that the direction this conversation was taking was about to change. She didn't know how, it was something in Chloe's eyes, but she knew. "My respiratory system is failing and… and it's only getting worse. Mom and Dad won't say anything about it, but I heard the doctors talking to them about it when they thought I was zonked out. I've fought as hard as I can, Max, but I know I'm only putting off the inevitable."
"Chloe…"
"No Max, let me finish, please. It's hard enough to say without you interrupting. My parents are suffering Max, they try to keep these things from me, but I know. I know I'm costing them a shitload of money that they can't afford. I know that we're in danger of losing the house, I know we have bills piling up that we just can't pay. They are suffering, Max, they're suffering financially but emotionally they're completely shot. They try to put a brave face on things, but I know that Mom has lost all hope. And Max, I'm suffering too."
"Chloe…"
"I'm being honest with you, Max. It hurts. Pretty much all the time. It hurts in the only place it can. In my head. It hurts like a bitch. Sometimes I wake up at night in so much pain that I can't see. I can't move, so all I can do is lie there and silently scream at the ceiling. I don't want to wake Mom up; god knows they don't get enough sleep worrying about things as it is. This is not how I want things to end, Max."
"Chloe, what exactly are you saying?" Max's spider-sense was going into overdrive; alarms were wailing throughout her head.
"Max, I'm saying that being with you again has been so wonderful, so special. I just wanted to feel like a normal person again, like we were kids, running around Arcadia Bay… we had our whole lives ahead of us, and anything, everything was possible. Best Friends Forever. And Max, you made me feel that way yesterday, and today. I want this time with you to be my last memory." She looked straight at Max with an intensity in her gaze that Max had rarely seen. "Do you understand?"
Max dropped her head, unable to meet that intense gaze. "Yes, Chloe, I do."
"It's easy. All you have to do is crank up that injector to eleven." Tears were running freely down Max's face now and she tried to smile, but failed miserably.
"Spinal Tap," she said, quietly, and Chloe nodded.
"Twenty points, and an extra fifty because I know how hard this is for you."
"Chloe…"
"Max, please. I can't go on like this."
"Chloe, I had another friend who wanted to end it all, and I did everything I could to try and save her. And I did." She dropped her head even further. "Even though she hates me now."
"This is different Max. I'm not trying to… look, it's going to end soon enough, and it's going to be hell, Max. I know you were there for your friend no matter what."
"But Chloe, I can't be responsible for ending your… there's got to be another way."
"There is one other way. Slowly, surely, my respiratory system will fail. Each day it will become more and more difficult to breathe. The pain will increase until I will suffer, twenty-four-seven, and Max, I will be wishing every second that I could be free. You're not… you're just helping me end things on my own terms."
"I want to help you, Chloe. I just think sometimes that my help is just hurting you."
"At least you have a choice. When you want to make a decision you can just do it. Look at me. I'm… at the mercy of everybody. For once, Max, I want to make my own choice. The most important choice I have ever made. And I'm begging you to help me." She paused and looked again at Max. "Please, Max, help me."
"It wrecks me to see you in any pain, Chloe," said Max, sobbing freely now. "But I don't know if I'd be able to live with myself if I… killed you."
"Max, I'm dying. My condition is killing me, not you. I've said my goodbyes to Mom and Dad, but they won't honour my wishes. I want you to be the last thing I see. Max, I… I love you."
"Chloe, I love you too, you stupid dork!" cried Max, flinging herself on her friend. "Don't you get it? I'm already overwhelmed by guilt, now you're asking me to kill you?" She tenderly kissed Chloe's forehead. "Do you feel that?"
"You know I do." Chloe tightened up again, and Max froze.
"Chloe?"
"I'm… ok," she said, through gritted teeth. "Max, will you help me? How much do you love me?"
"More than I'd ever admit to," said Max.
"Then please, let me go." Chloe looked at Max, but no longer with the intense stare from earlier. Now, her eyes were filled with love and a tinge of sadness. "I'll miss you, but I'll be watching you."
Max made her decision, the hardest decision she'd ever had to make. She slowly stood up and before she had time to change her mind, she'd boosted the morphine drip and sat back down, laying across Chloe with her arms around her friend and her head nuzzled in Chloe's neck, kissing it softly.
"My best friend," murmured Chloe.
"My love," murmured Max.
"I'll just drift off to sleep now, dreaming of you, Max. Please, don't be unhappy. I'm just glad I could end thing on my own terms. Don't forget me, Max."
"Never."
"Best friends."
"Forever." Max paused, feeling her friend's breathing slow. "Chloe…"
"I'll see you around, Max," whispered Chloe, her eyes closing.
"Sooner than you think," replied her best friend, breaking down completely as she realised that, this time, her best friend had left her.