Chapter Text
David sucked in a breath through his mouth. His nose almost refused to accept the order from his brain, so he consciously breathed through his mouth, which was very incorrect.
He was stuck in bed, although he never fell asleep. His sleep was interrupted by random awakenings and a sudden onslaught of tears. He was tired, but it was the incurable kind.
Now he disassociated from everything. It was the only way the guilt wouldn’t set in, the only way he could avoid a relapse.
I’m a burden on him.
He’d been lying in that damn hotel room for 5 days now. Patrick had been in charge of everything, and David was useless.
It wouldn’t matter.
There’s a knife in my parent’s room.
There are pills in the bathroom.
Nobody would notice, nobody would care.
Moira tutted at his casket. “Stupid boy,” she drawled.
”I thought-“ Johnny cut himself off, laughing at his most pathetic child. “Alexis got over starving herself, why can’t David get over the blues?”
Speaking of Alexis, she wasn’t even at the funeral. Her and Ted were off at a hotel for a “weekend” getaway.
Patrick was there, though. “He was completely worthless,” he spoke, reading out the eulogy card word-for-word. “One of the dumbest people I’ve ever met.” Patrick shook his head. “He brought me down so much. I put too much time in trying to fix him when it was impossible. I’m glad he’s dead.”
A chorus of cheers rang out in the church, giving Patrick the confidence to go off script. “He should’ve done it earlier. Hell, he should’ve been a stillbirth! I wish the world had never known David Rose-“
”David?”
David slowly blinked. He didn’t realize he had even moved until he looked down and saw the red blade. “I’m just doing what you want me to do.”
Patrick looked on in terror. “W-what? Why would I want you to-David?”
David held the blade closer to his bloodied wrist, vertically, making Patrick gulp. “I’ve been in bed for a week, Patrick. I’m a burden. I promise, after this, I won’t be a burden any longer.”
Chills ran up Patrick’s spine. “You’re not a burden. You will never be a burden to me.”
The rational portion of David’s brain saw the sincerity and dread and love, even, in Patrick’s light brown eyes. He began to put the blade down.
Relief bubbled in Patrick until he let out a light sob.
That was you.
David snatched the blade again, stumbling immediately after.
I’m a burden.
I’m worthless.
...
...
...
Why is Patrick crying?
Moira screamed. “John!”
Johnny was vaguely aware of a sharp metallic smell. “Moira? Sweetheart, are you okay?”
”No!”
Alexis pounded on the door. Moira scrambled, uncharacteristically ungraceful, and swept open the door. “Oh my god, mom!”
A quiet sniffle and a sound of clothes was the only reason Johnny even knew someone else was in there. “Alexis?” Patrick’s voice sounded.
She shook her head. Moira moaned gutturally, making the Rose patriarch shoot straight up. “What happened?”
”David has committed suicide!” Moira wailed.
He blinked unbelievingly, not at all convinced.
Until Stevie ran in, throwing open the door with her eyes full of unshed tears. She ran towards Patrick and knocked him back with the force of her hug. “Ted tried. We all did.”
Johnny put his head down. His son. His brave, sensitive, perfect son.