10 Chapter 10

"Did it have to be you to comfort me?" Collin questions feeling worse. His heart just seemed to shatter more and more by the minute if that was even possible. He was in pain but he knew that he was never going to be okay with himself until he told Matthew the truth about his strange love for him.

"Who is the piece about?" Matthew asks with curiosity. Collin doesn't say a word, he just looks at Matthew's eyes in a way Matthew has never seen anyone look at him before. Almost the same way Collin had looked at him in the art room but stronger, with pain yet, was it love? Instead of answering with words, he turns the page of music to reveal the name of the piece, Matthew, all of the pain was because of him.

"Do I make you that sad?" Matthew looks at Collin with tears falling down his face after hearing the saddest song he has ever heard. "Why? Why do I cause you this much sadness?" Collin looked up at Matthew. No words came to mind, only the love that was now left behind. Left behind along with his broken heart, if only he knew he wished them apart. Matthew wipes Collin's tears "I'm sorry" was all he could get out. He didn't know what else to say, why should he be sorry for something he doesn't even know what it is.

"You should be" Collin whispers as another tear streams down his face. Matthew was confused, what had he done to make him feel this way. "You should be sorry because I am mad with you. Mad that you have to be so perfect."

"I'm sorry but I'm not perfect, actually far from it. Just because I beat you at something that doesn't mean I am perfect, I mean you are better than me at other things" Matthew says trying to comfort him but how could he if he didn't even know what was the problem.

"That's not what I mean. You see, it's just that you might not be perfect but you are perfect for me." Collin pauses, waiting for that hit, either emotional or physical but Matthew does nothing. He sits in silence so Collin continues.

Looking at his hands he says "The truth is..... The truth is..." but he hesitates, scared, filled with fear consuming him. But then it stops, he thinks it was going to happen sooner or later so I might as well tell him now. Why does it even matter but oh well, it's better said now then never.

So finally he gathers up all the courage, all the possible bravery he could have at the moment, and looks at Matthew's green eyes and says "The truth is that I am in love with you." Matthew's eyes widen with shock. Collin then felt insecure, thinking that he knew he didn't feel the same way. Collin runs out of the music room with tears streaming down his face.

Matthew finally gets out of shock and tries to run after him but it's too late, he was already gone out of sight. Matthew didn't know what to think, he always thought he would never fall in love but was this the day he would finally realize that maybe, just maybe he was. He started to drive towards Charlie's house but receives a call from Charlie's mom. He pulls over, taking his phone, and as he is about to say hello he hears her crying.

"Mrs. Woods? Is something wrong?" his voice was shaky, scared of what she was going to say.

She hesitated, making Matthew's stomach sink, "Come to the hospital. It's Charlie." and with that Matthew hung up and headed towards the hospital. Charlie had warned him that she wasn't feeling well, even told him which hospital they would go to but he never thought he would have to go so soon. He was afraid of the possibility that it could be the last day he was going to see his best friend.

Time passed, it was dark already and Matthew was worried about Collin because he was nowhere in sight. It had been four long hours of no news, why was it taking so long? Why was Collin not here? Fear and worry just seemed to pile up bit by bit like the minutes passed by. He couldn't take the anticipation much longer and decided to call Collin. He didn't pick up, only making that bad feeling inside of him worse.

He got Charlie's parents' attention and said "I'll be right back, I'm going to go check on Collin." They said okay and Matthew headed towards his house. He was scared of what he would come across and was wondering why he didn't go visit Charlie sooner.

He enters the house, it was only eight and he knew Victor was still working. He was hard-working but his passion led him to be a workaholic taking away his time was from his nephew. Matthew knocked on his door, "Collin" but no one responded. He put his ear close to the door but hears no movement.

"Collin, please open the door" nothing so Matthew takes a deep breath and walks in. He gasps, covering his mouth with tears coming to his eyes. He could not believe what was in front of him, now he wished it was a nightmare.

Trigger warning ⚠️ sorry don't hate me

Matthew acted quickly went straight to his closet for the box and quickly taking the pocket knife. Collin had hanged himself and Matthew cut the rope. He slapped him, taking off the rope in hopes he is still alive and wakes up. He didn't look dead, more unconscious so he felt for a pulse. It was there, weak but there, which made him laugh with tears of joy. He tried picking him up, struggling at first but somehow earning strength to pick him up.

Why Collin? Why did you have to result to this? Matthew thought as he carried his body down the stairs. He opened his truck, laying down Collin on the back seats. He speeded to the hospital, carrying him inside hoping they could help him in time. He was bleeding out from where he cut his thighs. They quickly accepted Collin, Charlie's parents worried about what had happened. After he explained what had happened to the nurse, Charlie's parents along with the police were asking what had happened. Trying not to cry, he described what had happened.

Time passed and finally, the doctor called them with the news. They were worried, he had both good and bad news.

"Well, first of all, I would like to say that this boy did the right thing." Victor smiled and thanked Matthew for the twentieth time since he got to the hospital.

"If it weren't for him, Collin would've died. He's weak but alive which is good thanks to him. I suggest you have a conversation with him about life, he's in pain, emotionally no doubt." Matthew hugged Victor for support, he felt horrible, guilty even.

"Doctor, what did he write on himself?" Everyone was confused but the doctor knew exactly what he meant.

"He wrote the names, Matthew and Christian." Matthew nodded, now no doubt tears were running down his face.

"I have news about Charlie, and I'm do to say they are not good." The doctor sighed, waited for everyone to take it all in before he continued. "Charlie has been fighting for her life all night, for some inexplicable reason the medicine stopped working and it's starting to spread throughout her body faster than before and I'm sorry to say that it won't slow down. If she survives until morning it will be a miracle because for the looks of it she only has a few hours." Charlie's mom sobbed on her husband, the poor father was crying in pain, trying to be strong for his wife but who could be in a situation like this?

"I suggest that only family goes to visit her, one at a time through the glass. I know you want to hold her but she is too delicate." Charlie's mom quickly left to go see her daughter while her husband sat down and waited for his turn. It was close to midnight and Matthew had promised to be home by one but time was the last thing on his mind.

"As for Collin, you are welcome to visit him one at a time, family only, and try not to worry him because even though he is stable he could easily become unstable. Now, who would like to visit him first?"

Victor put his hand on Matthew's back, "You go first" Matthew was surprised that he even offered him to go.

"Are you sure? I mean I can wait." Victor nodded telling him it was okay.

"Who are you to the patient?" The doctor asked and before he could answer Victor said "He's his fiance, he's family, they barely got engaged"

The doctor was surprised but smiled, "These days they just seem to fall in love faster and faster. Congratulations, no wonder you were worried. Of course, you can go see your fiance."

Matthew thanks the doctor, slight blush rises to his cheeks, and leaves towards Collin's room before Victor regrets letting him go first. He went inside his room, Collin being slightly happy to see Matthew but the sadness was still stronger than ever. Matthew walked towards Collin, afraid of hurting him again but still gets closer. He sighs, standing at Collin's side, Collin looks at his hand nervous at what Matthew is going to say but he says nothing.

"You're my fiance?" Collin asked Matthew, the blush was visible on Matthew's face. Matthew looks at his feet a bit embarrassed.

"Your uncle said I was so they would let me in. He offered to let me see you first so I'm here."

"When they said fiance I was thinking that it was Charlie." Matthew can't help but shed a tear because of her name.

"What's wrong Matthew? What happened to Charlie? Don't lie to me because I know you." Matthew looked at Collin, he knew he wasn't supposed to say anything but Collin had to know. He told him about Charlie so now he had to return the act of saying the truth.

"Charlie is here, as a patient, the treatment stopped working and she only has a few more hours. It went out of control, going faster than they have ever seen it go before and it'll be a huge miracle if she survives." With that Matthew sobs on falling on his knees. Collin was crying but scoots over and pats the bed.

Matthew looks up "Here, lay down with me. Please, I need someone by my side on this empty big bed." Matthew didn't see the bed as big but he needed comfort. He crawled into the bed, laid down next to him, laying his head on his chest with his arm around him. The doctor and the nurse walk in but Matthew and Collin don't notice them enter.

"What were you thinking Collin? What would have happened if you would have died? If Charlie died? You would have left me alone in pain." Matthew cried hugging Collin closer to him.

"I'm sorry Matthew. I... I promise I won't do it again as long as you stay with me too. Deal?" Matthew nods, he gets closer, losing any space between embracing the warmth between them.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but we just came to see how you are doing." The doctor said startlingly Matthew a bit but Collin quickly rubs his back to calm him down.

"I'm better but Matthew told me about Charlie. Please let me see her, I beg of you. I need to see her be okay." Collin pleaded but that didn't seem to work.

"I can't, I'm sorry but she's too weak. I'll let you know if I can somehow get you to see her but right now I need to check that everything, physically, is stable." Matthew agrees and leaves, holding the waiting room once again. After the doctor leaves Victor goes to visit Collin while Charlie's mom comes back to give her husband a chance to see his daughter. Matthew grows impatient, no news about Charlie made him nervous. It was five minutes till one and Matthew was still in the waiting room nowhere near his house that is an hour away.

"Mom, I have to tell you something" Matthew's voice sounds exhausted through the phone.

"Matthew, are you running late? Are you almost home?" His mom was worried, not resting since her son had left the house.

"That's the thing, I'm staying here. Charlie is dying, she will most likely not make it till morning and I want to be here to say my goodbyes. Collin tried to kill himself but I saved him. He's weak and worried more about Charlie than about himself. I'll be home by, at most, eight in the morning okay? I love you, goodnight, tell dad I love him and rest well" his mom was surprised and confused with the news. She was confused on why Collin would try to kill himself and harm himself in such a way but hangs up saying goodnight anyways.

"Mr. and Mrs. Woods?" The doctor calls and they stand up and walk towards the doctor.

"You're daughter is awake and would like to see you both. She's afraid that it might be her last minutes here with us." Both parents rush to her room, eager to see their daughter even though it might be her final moments.

Matthew was scared, scared of what was going to happen but gets a text. It's from his dad with an image attached to it. He opens the texts and sees that his dad had found his diary. It was opened to the page where he had written how he felt for Collin. The text said Good luck explaining this to you... Matthew turns off his phone, he doesn't dare to read the rest because he already knew what his father was going to say.

He went into the restroom, crying, letting all of his pain out since no one was around. He was tired but sleep was the last thing he was thinking about. He was scared, now more than ever his parents were going to judge him and accuse him of blaming others for his actions. That he faked being molested to not disgrace his family name. They wanted him to change and he did. He changed but not the way they had hoped. They wanted the 'perfect son' but he was far from the perfect son they wanted. He knew he was unwanted but this was cruelty at a whole different level.

"Matthew?" Victor's voice echoed in the lonely bathroom.

"Yeah?" Matthew called back trying to hide the fact he was sobbing not long ago.

"Come quick Charlie wants to see you. The doctor disagreed at first but as soon as she said it was her death wish they granted it. Hurry, I think she's running out of time" with that Matthew quickly composed himself and ran to her parents asking where her room is. Once they told him he sprinted towards it opening the door seeing Collin's bed next to hers.