“I pledge myself.”

“And I pledge myself too.”

Those words were spoken by two immature and naive children, Jake and Hanson. They pledged together that no matter what, they would be on each others side.

They were best friends. They always hung out with each other. And after a big fight, they had decided to make things right be promising.

“That feels like something was released off my chest,” breathed Jake, the cheerful one, in delight.

“Mine, too,” smiled the darker and more mysterious Hanson.

They didn’t realize they had in fact just added another burden to themselves.

…

Years later, Jake, now in his twenties and a successful person was walking home from work one evening. He waved greetings to his neighbours and they waved back as he jumped up the front steps to his house.

As he jingled his keys in the door he heard a ping from his phone. It was his girlfriend texting him their daily have-a-good-night message complete with hearts. They always sent one to each other, whether they’d been hanging together all day or not at all.

Grinning, Jake typed out a reply as he stepped inside. Then he went to his text thread with Hanson. There wasn’t any new massages but that was typical. He sent out a ‘Hey man, how you doing?’ He knew that Hanson always appreciated it when he sent him a text. Hanson was less successful than Jake and single, but he managed to get by with Jake’s help.

As he sent the message, he heard a weird ping from inside the house. Looking around, he was shocked to discover that Hanson was sitting unsteadily at his kitchen table.

“Hanson? What’s going on?” He slowly walked over to his friend. “What’s wrong, buddy?”

“Nothing,” said Hanson unsteadily. “Well, everything is about not wrong. I need help.”

“What type?”

“Please, help me escape here,” begged Hanson. “You promised me years ago. Help me leave this place forever.”

Jake was shocked. “Buddy… I can’t help you do that. You’re not committing that. I won’t let you.”

“You don’t know what it’s like!” Tears streamed down Hanson’s face— Jake had never seen him like this. “No one but you trusts me. I’ve got hardly any money. No job. Things are okay for a while, but then another girl deserts me and breaks up and I drink until I hit rock bottom. The only thing you can do to help me is kill me!”

Jake sat down and rubbed his eyes. “Ok, Hanson. I’ll help you. I have some pills.”

“You do? Where did you get them? When?”

“A little while back.” Jake rummaged in the cupboard and pulled out his pills. They were just pills from the grocery store— designed to put you to sleep for nine hours, for better rest. Just pure sleep— no dreams.

He told Hanson to get into bed in the guest room. “No sense in you dying standing up.” Hanson protested but eventually agreed.

Once Hanson was asleep, under the impression he was dead, Jake called a friend who worked to help people. He told them about the situation and they agreed to help. They moved Hanson to a safer place and when he woke up they began helping him.

For a long time, Hanson was upset at Jake. It was only when he had finished his therapy that he realized that his friend had indeed helped him.

One evening Jake and Hanson sat at a picnic table outside an ice cream shop one summer day.

“Okay, ready?” Jake asked. He and Hanson were running through Hanson’s daily routine— naming three things he was grateful for in life.

“Ready. Ice cream, sunsets and… best friends.” Hanson smiled at Jake.

“Aw,” smiled Jake.

“Well, it’s thanks to you I’m here. I’ve got a good job, haven’t had wine in a year, and I’m enjoying this delicious strawberry ice cream, thanks to you.”

“Actually, it’s thanks to you we’re eating this,” smirked Jake. “Your turn for the bill.”