Short Stories

you saved my life

TRIGGER WARNING - drug use

Demi

I have a full afternoon of soundchecks, meet and greets and interviews before my show later on tonight and I feel completely exhausted already. I'm still overcoming the flu, my voice sounds tired and I want nothing more than to be back in my bed resting. My next interview schedule is with Kiss 95.1 which is in five minutes. Max has already called for me to make my way to one of the rooms backstage to prep for the interview so I grit my teeth and do as I'm told.

Wilmer

I'm sitting in the make up chair in the 'From Dusk Till Dawn' trailer where we're filming in Texas. It's been a couple of days since I last saw Demi and I already miss her like crazy and can't wait to see her again.

With another ten minutes left of my lunch break, I take out my phone and open up twitter before scrolling through my mentions. For some reason, I'm being spammed with a link to Demi's most recent interview. I remember her telling me she had an interview today but that she was too exhausted to speak right now. The majority of my mentions are filled with overexcited and emotional lovatics sending their love and support over mine and Demi's relationship, and although there's a few hateful tweets, I've learned to shrug it off.had been a couple of days since he last saw Demi but he already missed her and couldn't wait to see her again.

With curiosity taking over, I click on the interview link. Demi's face appears on my phone screen and a smile instantly spreads across my face. She looks so beautiful, but also slightly uncomfortable which I could pick up on the second she started to play with her hair. I mean who wouldn't feel uncomfortable with a bunch of strangers sticking their phones in your face?

"Did anybody ever save your life?"

The interviewer's question catches my attention, Demi's never really gone into great detail about that question before.

"Yeah, it didn't happen until maybe like.. four years ago. Um I had some people come into my life, not just recovery based but specifically one person that came into my life that, um, made me feel like I had something worth living for and made me feel, this person said basically like "get your shit together, I know the kind of woman you can be."

I close my eyes, remembering the exact moment she's talking about

* * * * 

"Demi?! Demi where are you?!" I shout in panic after rushing over to her house.

I'd just received a worrying text from her that basically said she was sorry and couldn't do this anymore. Already knowing about her struggles, my mind went into overdrive and now I'm here.

I hate seeing Demi in such a dark place, I wish I could just save her from it all. Demi's family are out of town for the week, leaving Demi on her own. Big mistake. She knows she can't trust herself but she would never admit that. She puts up a front. On the outside, she's perfectly fine. But on the inside, it's the complete opposite.

With no reply, I run through every room in the empty house before reaching Demi's bedroom door. I try to let myself in but the door's been locked shut.

"Demi, Demi it's just me. Come on unlock the door.." I try to say calmly but the anxiety and worry takes over. 

I run into the door in an attempt to burst it open, but instead receive a painful sting to my shoulder. But I don't give up. Try after try, sting after sting, I continuously throw my body weight against the locked door and on my seventh attempt, the lock breaks and the door swings open. With adrenaline, fear and sickness filling my body, I quickly run into Demi's bedroom and my stomach immediately drops.

Demi's curled up in the corner of her bedroom, with her legs pushed against her chest and a line of cocaine in front of her. Her eyes are fixated on the drug, her feet curling up into the carpet. Her body doesn't even register the fact that I've just broken into her room, she has no idea. Her mind's too occupied on only one thing.

"Demi, don't do this. You're better than this. Demi come on, listen to me!" I yell in fright as I watch her frail body slowly move towards the substance on the ground.

Not knowing what else to do, I run towards her, scooping her small body into my arms and away from what could potentially kill her. That's when Demi registers what's happening.

"What the fuck Wilmer, put me down!" she screams at the top of her lungs as she attempts to wriggle out of my hold. 

I ignore her yelling as walk out of the bedroom and down into the living room. 

"Wilmer I mean it, put me down" Demi says through gritted teeth. 

I know she's mad, but I also know that if I let her go, she would be back up in that bedroom seconds later.

"Demi, shut up. Stop talking and listen to me" I snap sternly as I sit her down on the couch, my hands now gripping her wrists. "What are you doing to yourself? Look at who you're becoming! You're not this person and I know you know that too" I speak softly, hoping that Demi will be more willing to listen if there's no shouting. Sitting with her head down, Demi stays silent.

"Look at me, Demi. Baby, you know you can't keep going like this. You're a fighter, you're loved, don't give up now my sweetheart" I say as I hold back tears, failing as a few fall down onto Demi's hand.

"Why are you crying?" Demi asks in a hoarse, slurred voice as her eyes make contact with mine. 

"Because I care about you, very much Demi. And you can't live like this anymore. You need to make a change, you need help" I reply, my voice cracking at times. 

"I don't need help" she snaps, trying to get old of my grip.

"Demi, I had to pick you up off the floor and drag you away from that stuff, that isn't normal. Something's going on inside of you and you need to talk to somebody. I'm not gonna push you into anything, but talk to me at least, please?" I ask, now squeezing Demi's hands in desperation. I don't want to lose her. Demi doesn't respond, only cries.

"I'm here for you, no matter what. But Demi you have to get this under control, you have to get your life in order. I know you don't want to be this person, you want to be a real role model and help change the world. But baby you gotta change yourself first" I whisper to Demi as I pull her in for a hug.

 Nuzzling her face into my chest, Demi lets her emotions flood out. I say nothing more, but simply hold her tightly.

* * * * 

"This person, really I feel like saved my life, gave me inspiration to keep going and also, to just keep fighting hard.."

I watch as a few tears run down my cheeks. It's always painful to think back to that night, but it also reminds me of how far Demi's come over the past few years, and I couldn't be more proud.

"This person gave me the will to fight for success, for recovery."

I smile at my screen before a knock at the door takes my attention. 

"We're ready to start shooting" a runner announces as I lock my phone, putting it back in my pocket before making my way back onto the set.

"What are you so happy about?" a fellow cast member asks, laughing slightly. 

"Just thinking about someone really incredible.." I reply, the smile growing on my face as I get into position for the scene.

"Roll camera, mark.."