static [joshler]

static

This is the chapter I based the whole book on lmao. It is MOST DEFINITELY not the end of the book so hold your socks on folks. Also this one and the next one are really sad and overwhelming. I cried over this so good luck.

TW: blood, choking.

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"Josh?" A muffled voice bounced around his room and ceiling almost exactly two days later. "Josh? Are you awake?"

The mentioned groaned and rubbed his eyes as the calling of his name continued. He searched under one of his pillows and pulled out the device. The muffled voice got louder and more clear in the night. Josh squinted through the dark and turned down the volume a bit. He pressed the button on the side and responded to the voice. "Yeah, I'm here."

"Sorry if I'm annoying."

"I was barely sleeping, its fine. What's up?"

"Well if you want my honest truth," Tyler spoke in a whisper because his voice was practically gone. He sniffled and wiped his nose on a tissue. He had his chapped lips parted, only being able to breath out of his mouth. "I can't sleep 'cause I can't breathe. And on top of that my chest and throat hurt like hell. Also my body aches so much that I can barely move." He breathed in pain. "And other shit but I don't want to be here all night."

"Ty, I'm so sorry. Did the shower thing work yesterday?"

"Yeah, a little. The steam made me feel better but I couldn't stay standing in there long. Then when I got out I almost slammed my head on the counter 'cause I passed out for a second."

"You know if I could help I would, right?"

Instead of a reply, the walkie talkie cut in with a harsh cough. It quickly cut out again.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah." He coughed a little softer. Even through the walkie talkie you could here the crackling in his breathing.

Josh could hear him trying to catch his breath. "My brother has an inhaler... I don't think it would work on you though since its for asthma..."

"I'm good. I rath-" He coughed into the speaker again. "Fuck- I was gonna say that... that I rather not take the- take the risk..."

Josh was beginning to worry more than usual. "Tyler, maybe you should rest. Your voice I mean. You talking to me probably isn't helping. Just calm down a bit."

To Tyler it felt like something was restricting his airway. He coughed to clear it. It didn't work so he did it again. Soon enough he couldn't control it and he was having a coughing fit. His throat closed up and he quickly sat up in the dark night, scared out of his mind. He wheezed as he hit his chest and forced himself to cough. Mucus came out and he grabbed a tissue and spit in it. He took a moment to catch his breath before going back to Josh.

"I actually couldn't fucking breathe for a second." He blinked, eyes watery and his nose running.

Josh sighed, running a hand down his face. "I'm worried for you."

"There's nothing you can do."

He let his hand fall with the gravity and bounce slightly on the bed. "I can take you to the emergency room."

"You can but that's not gonna happen."

"Then I am coming over there and I'm feeding you chicken noodle soup, goddamnit."

"How are you coming over?"

"You have a front door and a deep sleeping family."

"Isn't your car broken?" He coughed.