Phil sat at his boring little desk in his boring little office. Dan had another rough night last night. He was up all night screaming and crying and coughing up blood. Phil wanted to stay home with him today but.. He honestly couldn't. His boss didn't care that Dan was literally dying, he just wanted his paperwork sent in on time. Last time Phil called in to stay home, his boss told him that if he stayed home one more day he would be fired. And he REALLY needed this job.
Dan was currently unemployed except for when he got a gig acting (which he couldn't do right now obviously). Phil was their on only form of financial support. That's why Dan couldn't call him. He just couldn't.
Dan had been suffering stomach pains all night and all morning. Phil told him not to hesitate to call him if they got worse but Dan knew he couldn't. Phil would lose his job.
Dan collapsed at 12:54 AM.
He couldn't move. The pain was much too unbearable. He started shaking, sobbing, sweating. He coughed up what little he had in his stomach and noticed the blood again. More than last time. The blood dripping from his chapped lips onto his T-shirt. The pain worsened. He reached for guys phone and gasped when a pain in his side stopped him from grabbing it. He ignored the pain for a moment until he grabbed his phone.
He looked through his contacts, trying to find anyone other than Phil to call. He knew Carrie was at rehearsal.. He couldn't bother her with his bullshit. He decided to call his mother. She would know what to do.
'Hello, you have reached Diane Howell. I can't take your call right now. Please leave your-" Dan hung up with a groan. He tried his father, only to get the same thing. He tried his younger brother, Adrian, but he got voicemail again.
He was going to give up, but he felt the bile creeping up his throat again. He called his friend Louise. She might help.
'Hello?' She asked in an overly sweet voice.
"Louise!" He sobbed into the phone. "I didn't know who to call.. I know you might be busy with your baby but I need help.." He sobbed and whimpered.
'Say no more, I'll be right there!' She said before hanging up.
Dan curled up on the floor praying she would hurry up. He tried to calm himself down. He held Phil's lion to his chest as he cried, and then everything went black.
Louise quickly called 911 when she saw the state Dan was in. He was completely white and covered in his own blood. He was bleeding from his mouth and nose. He was hardly breathing.
The paramedics carefully lifted Dan onto a gurney and loaded his unconscious form into the flashing ambulance.
Louise stood helpless with tears in her eyes as she watched this young, helpless boy being sent away for possibly the last time.