"You can't hide from the monsters that lurk in the dark, they'll always find a way to into your heart."

…

"Argggg." Phil groaned quietly. He pressed his hand into his side as if to squash the pain. This was the third time this week his side had been throbbing for no reason that Phil could see.

He leaned over the side of the bed and breathed heavily through his mouth as a wave of nausea passed through him.

His head throbbed as the exhaustion started taking control again. Black spots swam before his eyes.

He couldn't breathe. His body shook.

He was terrified. Nothing like this had ever happened before.

Just then he felt bile start to climb up his throat and he stood up in alarm, knowing he needed to get to the bathroom.

He took one step before his legs buckled.

He crumpled, head thumping against the floor. The pain in his brain intensified, rising in pressure until he felt like he was going to die.

He screamed.

He screamed and screamed until the bile in his throat came pouring out of his lips, pooling around his face.

He screamed until he couldn't breathe anymore and he was left shaking.

He could see tears dripping into the bile as he lay paralyzed, in the worst pain he had ever felt.

Eventually the pain in his side came back, intensifying with every second until his mind finally gave up and his eyes rolled back into his head.

….

He didn't know what time it was when he woke up. He pealed himself off the floor. Everything looked hazy. The left side of his face was stiff with dried bile.

He was dizzy and dazed but somehow he stumbled to the bathroom. He turned on the tap and ran his hands under them, bringing them up to splash water on his face. He had no idea what had happened. Nothing had ever felt that bad before. Nothing.

His head throbbed dully, pounding behind his ears.

He thanked his lucky stars again that Dan was staying with PJ for two days.

He leaned against the sink as the realization hit him. Whatever this was, it wasn't going away.

He needed to see a doctor.

…

Phil stayed in bed that next week.

When he woke up every day he just lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Sometimes he would browse through Tumblr aimlessly.

He just didn't seem to have any energy.

Dan hardly saw him at all.

He had no idea what was going on and that terrified him because it was such a drastic change in behavior from Phil.

He knocked on Phil's door.

"Phil?"

Nothing.

"Are you ok? Can I come in?"

No answer. Dan's patience was through.

"I coming in."

He grabbed the handle and opened the door. There was Phil, lying in his bed, staring into space.

"Phil, what's going on?"

Phil snapped his eyes from the wall and looked at Dan lazily.

"You haven't come out in days. What happened? Why are you acting this way?"

Phil looked away again.

"PHIL." Dan shouted. "Stop this right now! Talk to me!"

"There's nothing to say." Phil muttered.

"Yes there is! Just look at you! You're eyes are sunken, you're pale, and I know you haven't been eating. Tell me what going on or I'm calling an ambulance."

Phil sat up and leaned over the side of the bed, letting his feet scrape the floor.

"There's no use."

Dan felt his heart drop even though he didn't know why.

"What does that mean?"

Phil dropped his gaze.

"Nothing."

"What is it Phil? Why won't you tell me what's going on with you? What are you not telling me?!"

"Dan, it's not that easy…" Phil stood up.

"Yes it is Phil. I'm leaving until you decide you can talk to your best friend again."

Dan turned around and started to walk away.

"I have cancer!"

Dan froze. He turned to face Phil, his face white.

"What?"

"I have cancer Dan. And it's terminal."

Phil paused, and looked away. When he looked back, he could see Dan shaking.

"I could get chemo, but the doctor said it's probably not worth it. The chances of it helping are minimal, and even if I do try I could die sooner from the sickness it causes."

"But isn't in worth a try?" Dan whispered. "Isn't it worth a fucking try if you could live?"

"I don't know Dan. I just want to enjoy what I have left. Chemo could just lead me to suffer more."

"How long do you have?"

"A few months probably. They don't know."

"How long have you known?"

"About a week. I didn't want to tell you in case you left me or something. This isn't going to be easy and there are already going to be a lot of bad days…"

Phil choked a little on his own words.

"I'm so scared. I just didn't want to do it alone….." He started crying.

Dan rushed over and hugged Phil as tight as he could. Phil closed his eyes and leaned into Dan. When he felt his shirt feel damp he realized that Dan was crying too. His body shook with silent sobs as he clutched his friend with a white knuckled grip.

They had no idea what was to come, but whatever was around the corner, they would deal with it together.

Promise.