"You know this will be the death of you."

"But I don't want to-"

"It doesn't matter what you want! What does matter is the truth. You don't want to live with this, correct?"

"..."

{insistently} "Correct?"

{nods head slowly}

"And if you don't want to live with this, you have a certain number of options. You can escape, you can call for help, or, of course-"

"Josh needs me."

"So?"

"So he's important. He matters."

"You know he'll find someone else. Happens all the time."

"..."

"As I was saying. You could die, of course. That is the easiest of the options, and has the most benefits. You'll never be in pain again. You'll never feel grief, or depression, or anxiety, or stress. You'll never feel anything at all."

"But it hurts to do."

"Well, yes, but a bit of final pain is a small price to pay for never feeling pain at all anymore."

{regretfully} "How?"

{delighted} "Oh, I'm so glad you asked. You know, we've been here a thousand times before, but I never get tired of answering that question. The possibilities are endless."

"Just...please tell me how."

"Well, there's the stereotypical deaths of this manner: jumping off a building or bridge, shooting yourself, stabbing yourself, slicing your wrists, or, a personal favorite, overdose."

"Why is that your favorite?"

"It's frightfully easy. Your parents don't keep the medicines locked up, do they?"

{shakes head}

"Good. All you have to do is open the cabinet. Look around. Browse. I recommend Tylenol PM, or a similar sleep aid. You're a small boy, it won't take a lot of pills to do you in. A dozen, maybe? I'd go a little over that, just to be safe."

{cracking voice} "Then what?"

"Go to your room. Write a lovely note for your loved ones to find. Choose a place to do it, and bring any items you want with you when you go. Your music, perhaps. A notebook. Dress in your favorite colors. Make yourself look presentable. Sit back, take a few pills with water, and wait until you get sleepy. Then take the rest."

"..."

"Well?"

"I don't know."

"You will, when the time's right. I want you to get enough pills from the cabinet now, so you can be ready. Just be quiet about it. If someone asks what you're doing, tell them you have a headache and you're looking for an Advil or something."

"Okay."

{proudly} "That's my boy."