"My c-hest h_hurts," she uttered painfully while holding tightly the t-shirt she wore, which I didn't fail to notice was one of mine. I held her in my arms as she shivered. Her skin was hot and dry because of dehydration.

I knew she was in pain.

This has happened to me before, may be more than anybody would know. Perhaps thats why I didn't want to leave April's side. It feels so much worse suffering alone.

"The doctor will be here soon. Hang in there for a while." I encouraged. She wasn't resisting anymore and it had everything to do with her body being exhausted and surpressed because of the excessive dosage of marijuana. She probably knew she already messed up big time and regretting this.

April was tapping her feet and shaking her hands. The uneasiness was kicking in. It bothered me to think that for this entire week April might have been abusing drugs every night. Evans mentioned she shows up looking dead and that really aggravates me.

Christ! I should've paid attention. I sensed her indifference lately. She was extra quiet, keeping her distance and always locking herself in her room. I should've checked up on her atleast once and I would've noticed something was up for sure. I fear this could turn into an addiction if it hasn't already.

I kept my eyes on her, watching her careful. Her breathing was turning slow and short. April began taking deep breaths. "James,"

I knew exactly what she was going for. "Let's sit up straight," I lifted her delicate body up slowly and leaned my own back on the headboard of my bed so she could lean on my chest for support.

"Its h-hard br_eathing." She cringed her face as she struggled.

"I know." I said with a frown on my face. I already turned up the air conditioning for maximum ventilation because I knew this would happen. "Sitting up helps. Try breathing with your mouth for more air." She parted her lips to take in more air as advised.

I was getting impatient. Ten minutes and counting but the doctor hadn't arrived. April's skin turned from hot and dry to cool and sweaty. It made me wonder if it was only heroine that she used or something else. Her eyes were barely opened and I didn't want her to sleep until the doctor got her.

I can't let her shut those eyes.

"You feel hot." She whined with a barely audible voice. "T-his room is too hot J_James, I ca-n't breath."

The AC was already at it's highest count.

She groaned uncomfortable with a dry throat while clenching her fists around my t-shirt. The pain was getting worse and that made it more difficult to breath.

Before I began cursing for the doctor being late, he budged into my bedroom. "Finally." I exhaled in relief.

He rushed to the bed and was quick to observe April. He didn't come alone though, behind him was another doctor.

"Medical toxicologist Victoria." She introduced while tending to April who was still in my hands. "We need to take her to the hospital, it's worse than we thought."

"Is something failing?" I questioned instantly.

"Don't panic James, relax. It's not that critical" Phill inquired. That was truly hard to do figuring if they needed to take April to the hospital it could only mine they noticed something in her system wasn't right by just looking at her. I know these procedures all too well. If it wasn't that critical they would've injected her with an antidote, activated charcoal and they would've measured her blood pressure to prescribe the right quantity of antidepressants.

This was something else.

"I'm not an idiot. Tell me exactly what is happening." I said while staring at April who was already eyes-shut. Her forehead was dripping of sweat and lips trembling.

Victoria replied calmly, "We just need to take a physical examination and a few laboratory tests because we've noticed she is in serious pain. A visceral organ could be affected. We don't want to take any chances. Her respiratory rate is also drastically declining, which I'm sure you've noticed. We need to hospitalize her."

Shit!

"We brought an ambulance just incase. Let's rush her outside."

_____________

We stayed at the hospital for hours. Turns out April was intoxicated and though none of her organs were affected__she was to be hospitalized for atleast a week so the doctors can detoxicate her blood system.

It was bad.

I was sure that April was about to be rehabilitated because an entire week of drug use could led to a serious addiction. And that would be determined when she wakes up. Her response to the treatment will either indicate discharge or a month of rehab.

The doctors suspect she has been using those drugs before just not as frequently as now. They are yet to question April but if that's true, then she's going straight to rehab. I will not let her turn into a junkie. I've been there, not a good place.

I won't let that girl kill herself.

I know I'm nobody to her, but I brought her to New York and I can't let her ruin her life. Not if I can help it.

"James.." Phill called for me, I was still in the waiting room. "She's awake."

"Is she responsive?" I stood up immediately.

"Better than we expected. She wants to see you."

I followed Phill to the room where April was in. When I got inside, she was laying on the bed, wearing a hospital gown and a blank expression on her face. "Call me if you need anything." The doctor said before excusing himself.

I walked myself to her hospital bed. She was pale, her eyes carrying a deep emptiness as she looked at me and I pondered on what could've made April resort to doing what she had just done to herself.

"What are you feeling?" I asked her.

"Nothing." Her response felt like nothing.

"Do you need anything?"

"To go home." She said slowly. "I'm not fond of hospitals."

"You can't leave yet. The doctor wants to run a few more tests."

"I feel fine." Her voice was weak. "Besides, I have work tomorrow."

She can't be serious right now.

"I excused you from work for the rest of the week. You'll return next Wednesday but for now you need to get better."

"I said I'm alright." She uttered.

"You almost relapsed earlier. You put your life at risk."

"What's it to you? It's my life not yours."

An unexpected anger waved in me. I pointed at her, "If you think for a second that I'm gonna let you keep using that junk then you are mistaken." I spoke seriously. "I'm not letting you die in my house."

"Then I'll move out." She wanted to sound stronger but her body didn't let her.

"Do you want to die?"

"Doesn't matter because nobody would care. It's my life and I choose what I want to do with it."

I kept quiet.

I don't think April realised how she was sounding right now. Her words alarmed me. Was she purposefully attempting to overdose on the those drugs? Why would she do that to herself? What could she be going through that would make her think this way? Was she leaving florida or escaping it?

"I want to go home James."

I wondered if she was referring to my apartment as home or she wanted to leave New York.

"Thats not my choice to make. It's up to the doctors." I every much doubt she's being discharged.

"Please." She said quietly. "I can't stand it here."

She was tapping her feet on the bed, as if feeling anxious.

"How long have you been taking the drugs?"

She looked away from me.

"April..."

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked.

"What?"

"Like that! You're looking at me differently."

"Answer my question." I said.

"I've done it thrice. I'm not a drug addict James. Stop looking at me like that."

I frowned. "Why?"

"Why not?" She rephrased. "Don't worry I won't be dying in your house if that's what you're worried about."

God! She's so fucking stubborn. Why can't she just reason with her head for once?

"You won't be leaving this place until you promise to abstain from using those drugs. And besides, that stuff is still in your system and the doctors are cleaning it up. That takes a while. Approximately a week time."

She stared at me. "What? I can't stay here that long, please. I can't tolerate that." April was now panicking with a trembling voice. "I hate hospitals."

"Relax."

"No." She started pacing on the bed with eyes roaming the room. "Don't make me spend another minute here James. You can have me treated at home. I promise to behave. I swear on my life. I can't stay here. Please." Her hands began to shake.

"Hey ..... Calm down." I moved closer to her and held her shoulders. She looked up at me with eyes that cried for help. "James.... I don't want to sleep in a hospital." She sounded terrified. Her eyes were radiating with a sense of fear and she looked scared.

Why can't I ever refuse to her?

"Alright."

___________