When Logan came down for breakfast the next morning, he already knew this morning was going to be bad. There was no sign of his father anywhere. This circumstance was reason enough to let his mood sink again. But what finally gave him the rest was the cheerful music from the radio, next to his mother, who happily hummed the tunes while she did the dishes. She acted like yesterday had never happened.

"Where's Dad?"

She turned and beamed at him. Yes, she actually smiled at him. "Good morning, honey. Your father got an urgent call from the university and had to leave."

"On a Saturday?" Logan asked skeptically. Joanna nodded and pointed to the table. "Sit down and eat something. I made you toast and eggs."

Logan didn't feel hungry, but he figured it would be better to have breakfast in silence than engage in another argument with his mother.


"It's time to take your meds, honey," Joanna said when Logan had finished breakfast. She carefully placed the rectangular medicine dispenser on the table, picked up his empty plate and returned to the sink. Logan looked at the white box. His medications, which reduced the symptoms of his disease, which allowed him to live a halfway normal life. Suddenly, something deep inside him clicked. He raised his head. "No."

"What did you say, honey?"

"I won't take my meds." Something in his voice must have caught her attention after all. She turned around, still smiling but not as bright as before. "Of course you will, Logan. Don't be absurd. You need them."

Logan shook his head. "No."

Her smile died. "Logan, that's not a matter for discussion. You will take your medication."

"Will you allow me to see Camille again?"

"I won't change my mind."

"Is that a no?"

"Yes, that's a no."

"Then I won't take my medication."

"Logan . . ." Her voice was warning, authoritative. "Don't act like a stubborn child and take those pills before-"

"No!"

Logan had jumped up, and with an angry wave of his hand he swept the medication dispenser off the table. The white plastic case hit the tiles with full force and shattered, spilling the pills all over the kitchen floor. For a moment, mother and son stared at each other, then Logan turned away, left the kitchen, and sprinted up the stairs. All the way up to his room, he expected his mother to call him back. She didn't.


The knock on the door was a little more demanding than usual. Logan couldn't blame his father, still he didn't invite him in, just continued to stare out the window. The door opened and Logan's father entered. He didn't sit down. Not a good sign.

"When I asked you to pull yourself together, I didn't mean to start a riot here."

"I'm sorry, Dad, but she . . . no, you know what, I'm not sorry."

His father sighed. "I understand what's going on in your head. You're growing up, you want to test your limits. I get that. But I think there will definitely be better possibilities than this one." From his shirt pocket he pulled out a small medication bottle and held it out to Logan with a gentle smile. "Am I right?"

Logan's heart sank. Standing up to his mother was easy, but standing up to his father was an entirely different thing. "Sorry, Dad. I can't."

For a moment, there was silence in the room. Then his father put the medicine back in his pocket and said, "All right."

Logan looked at him in surprise. "You're not angry?"

"No, of course not. You're old enough to make your own decisions. And even though I'm your father, I have no right to force you to take your medication. However, I would like to know from you if you are aware of all the possible consequences. If you really want to go through this, Logan, you have to be one hundred percent sure about it."

They looked at each other and Logan realized that this was his last chance to give in. And he also knew he wouldn't. He had already made up his mind. "Yes, I'm sure."


"How can you be so stupid?!"

"Please . . . stop yelling . . ." Logan begged his friend in a low voice while massaging the sides of his head.

"Believe me, I wish I didn't have to. But it's been two weeks now and you're getting weaker and weaker."

"Nevertheless, it is my decision, Kendall."

"So your decision is to die?"

Logan rolled his eyes. "I won't die."

"Have you looked in the mirror lately?"

Logan ignored that comment.

"Logan, please, be reasonable. Stop this madness and get back on your meds before something bad happens."

"No," Logan replied firmly. "I'm tired of everyone thinking that they can constantly tell me what I can and can't do. I want to make my own decisions, I want to be able to control my own life."

"If you continue to be so stubborn, you will no longer have a life to control. What happened to you? I don't recognize you anymore. You . . . you've changed."

"You're right, I've changed."

"You are only doing this because of Camille, aren't you?"

When Logan didn't answer right away, Kendall continued, "You risk your health for some girl you barely know."

Logan lifted his head. "Some girl?"

Kendall paused. "I didn't mean it that way."

"If I remember correctly, you were the one who started all this in the first place, right?"

"Yes, that's right. But that was before I found out that she cheated on you."

"She didn't cheat on me. It was more of a mistake, an accident. She didn't want it to happen."

Kendall snorted. "Yeah, right. Logan, you two have only been dating for a few months, well, if you can really call that dating."

"What do you mean by that?" Logan asked suspiciously.

"Nothing."

"I have to say it's extremely insightful to learn how my so-called best friend actually feels about my former relationship."

An awkward silence stretched between them, finally broken by Kendall in a last-ditch effort to talk sense into his friend.

"Logan, please, I'm begging you. I honestly don't know if I can support you and-"

"Then don't."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"You heard me. If you, as my only best friend, are unable to help me, or simply don't want to help me, then I have no choice but to accept it. You can leave."

Another silence, much longer than the one before.

"Logan, please . . . I . . . I can't . . ."

"Then go. Now."

"When I go you will be alone."

"I'm aware of that. It's the best for everyone."

Kendall walked slowly to the door.

"Kendall?"

He turned around.

"You no longer need to feel obliged to stop by regularly to see how I'm doing. Be glad that you got rid of that burden."

Kendall just stared at him, then without saying another word, he left the room, closing the door behind him.