Tai rode his bike pedalling with speed. He had realized a few minutes into his ride he had neglected to put on his shoes. The prickling from the pedals had bothered him for a moment before going numb as his brain went into over drive. At first when he had left the apartment, he had no idea where he was going. He just needed to move. The inside of his home was too small and he thought he was going to rip his skin off from the claustrophobia he had been feeling. It was once he got on his bike and started pedalling it all clicked together. His body and his brain finally worked together to come up with a destination. A plan. Tai forced the pedals round faster and faster as he weaved through the roads. He finally came to an apartment complex and quickly hopped off his bike and placed it in the bike rack out front. He didn't bother locking it as he ran to the stairs and jogged up the steps. He was quick to get to the floor he wanted and find the apartment. He started knocking fast on the door breathing heavily from the exercise. The door opened and Tai jumped back startled at the moving object.
"Tai?" Tai looked at the person in the doorway and nodded,
"Joe I need to talk to you." Joe stared at Tai and then looked down at Tai's feet,
"where are your shoes?" Tai shook his head,
"forget about that Joe please." Joe stepped out of the doorway shutting the door behind him,
"You okay Tai? Is there something wrong with the digimon? Are they here?" Tai finally caught his breath and waved his hands,
"no, no. Joe this isn't about me or the digimon or the digital world okay? This is serious." Joe was quiet and examined Tai suspiciously.
"I don't get it? Are you sure it has nothing to do with your shoes? I mean how'd you get here without your shoes?" Tai groaned
"urg! Joe focus!" Joe pushed his glasses up his nose,
"I am, I am genuinely trying to figure out how you made it here with only socks on." Tai put his hand to his face and groaned again.
"Joe please you need to help Kari." Joe seemed to become serious,
"is she hurt? Were you guys in an accident?! Is that why you don't have shoes?!" Tai then got loud,
"Joe! Enough about the shoes! No one is hurt! I mean not I don't know." Tai stopped trying to organize his thoughts.
"Kari's sick Joe and I need your help to make her better." Joe visibly relaxed,
"sure what's going on? Is it the flu?" Tai shook his head
"leukaemia." Tai watches the colour drain from Joes face. This was not the look he wanted to see on his aspiring doctor friends face.
"No, no Joe don't get like this. You aren't supposed to look like this. Just nod and tell me you can fix this. You can help her." Joe was stunned,
"I, I can't." He stuttered and Tai shook his head not accepting that answer.
"No, Joe. Listen to me. Just tell me she's gonna be okay, tell me this is fixable because I can't-" Tai's voice caught in his throat. He swallowed hard,
"I cant Joe, please. I am begging you tell me you can fix this." Tai tried to stay serious, keep his face stern. But his eyes were watering and he was finding it harder and harder to get the words out. Joe shook his head, the colour still drained from his face. Tai wanted to fall to his knees, beg and grovel. He also wanted to punch Joe. This was his fault now, he was being a shitty friend.
"Tai, I can't do that. I can't fix this one."
"YES YOU CAN!" Tai screamed,
"yes you can Joe because I can't! And if I can't then it has to be you it has to be! If I can't and you can't then that means I've failed and I'm not giving up! I'm not gonna let her go!" Tai was right in Joes face and Joe looked petrified.
"Tai, I am so sorry." Joe whispered and Tai growled. He clenched his fist ready to punch Joe as hard as he could. He moved it towards Joe's face and then his whole body crumpled to the ground. Tai started sobbing,
"I can't help her. I can't do anything." Tai cried and Joe crouched down and put a hand on Tai's back.
"Tai, this isn't your fault."
"Oh what do you know?!" Tai snapped and he watched Joe jump back.
"I promised her Joe. I promised! I screwed up once before I swore I'd never let it happen again! She's sick and it's all my fault." Tai pressed his hand to his face as he cried again and he felt Joe's hand on his back once more,
"It's okay Tai. We can get through this. I can't fix it but I can help. I may not be a doctor yet but there are things I can do. We can get her on a strong diet plan and help her to eat regularly and sleep often. She's strong and more and more people are beating leukaemia everyday. She's not hopeless, and neither are you." Tai put his hands on the ground. He stopped crying and let Joe's words sink in. He slowly turned to look up to Joe.
"You think she can beat this?" He asked a flicker of hope lacing his words. Joe smirked and stretched out his hand,
"I'm saying she's got a shot. So long as she stays as stubborn as you, this cancer hasn't got a chance in hell of taking her down." Tai laughed and grabbed Joes hand. He let Joe pull him to his feet and once standing, the two stared at each other a moment. Tai then wrapped his arms around Joe.
"I'm sorry. You're a good friend Joe." Joe patted Tai's back and stepped back,
"anytime." Tai wiped his nose and dried his cheeks. Joe chuckled,
"how about I drive you home." Tai shook his head,
"nah, I got my bike. Thanks though." Joe waved a hand,
"it'll fit in the back. Come on." Tai sighed and gave in. He was slightly relieved he wouldn't have to bike back with no shoes. Joe slipped back inside to grab a set of car keys and remerged. The two made their way downstairs and once Tai had successfully loaded his bike into the back of Joe's car, Joe drove Tai home.