This blinding pain. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it home. I can’t go to the hospital, they wouldn’t know how to help me anyway. If I just had the strength the fly, no just _walk, _then I would be okay.

I slump to the floor. The abandoned buildings floor creaking as I do. My breaths are slow and shallow. The blood from my wound on my side just won’t stop flowing.

Ashley. I could call Ashley for help. But then she would know about my extracurriculars. I don’t want to put her in danger. The same kind that’s comes with a result like my wound. I’m just so _exhausted._

I’m so incredibly tired of lying to her. She would understand. She sees me at my core. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. I reach for the pocket of my pants and fumble with the zipper. With the blood loss, my hands tremble. I unlock my phone with some difficulty and dial her number.

One ring. What if she doesn’t understand?

Second ring. What if she hates me for lying to her?

Third ring. There’s still time to hang up. I flick my thumb towards the end call button, but she answers.

“Hey, Dill. What’s up?” the background noise sounds like she’s cooking.

I try to take a deep breath, but with my two broken ribs it results in a cough instead. I heard a clang. I think she dropped something. “Ash… I need help. I’m so sorry to ask but you’re the only one I trust. Can you please come pick me up?”

“Send me your location.” I do. I hear her engine start. “I’m five minutes away.”

Those five minutes felt like hours. The bleeding slowed to a manageable amount. I hear hurried footsteps from behind me and from the heaviness I know it’s ashley.

“Dill?!” She yells.

“Right here,” I whisper. She runs the few dozen feet to me and kneels.

“What the hell happened to you?”

“I’ll give you the details later, but right now I really need to get home. I need my medicine. Can I have your arm?” I extend my arm towards her.

“Of course.” she greets my arm and locks it with hers. With her help I can stand to my feet. She guides me to her car and I all but fall in the passenger seat.

When I get to my house, I tell her everything. The heavy weight on my chest not only from broken ribs but extreme worry that she’ll condemn me.

It never comes. Only acceptance and a forever friendship.