static [joshler]

good day

The seventeen year old stepped into the shower carefully. He held onto the handle bolted to the wall just incase and let the hot water flow onto his back, sighing in the process. This shower was days passed due. For the six days he was confined to his room he didn't shower once, barely even getting out of bed. He ran on alcohol wipes that he relied on to keep himself somewhat clean during the week he was in the hospital for.

Tyler tilted his chin up to the ceiling and breathed through his nose deeply to get some artificial air in the hot steam. The nasal cannula was still on his face along with the feeding tube. It was difficult to keep the both of them dry. For the oxygen tube he simply put the clear tubing over the curtain, like he did with his towel, so it wouldn't get as wet. The oxygen tank stood it's ground on the dry tile outside of the shower.

Before he got in the shower, the nurse, that he had seen many times but didn't care to remember their name, had disconnected him from the pole that he was forced to be tied to. They gave him a little shower cap for his arm so he wouldn't get the PICC line wet either. He still had the feeding tube, though, just not connected to anything besides himself. It dangled a little past shoulder length. Everytime he moved, it would hit him. He wanted to rip it out. It irritated him.

Soon after that, the only support he had left with him, left the building. Leaving him alone. Jenna explained that she had to go to work. She then had a date with Debby after. It was planned for a month now so there was no way she would leave Tyler alone on purpose. Again.

He wasn't mad though. She got to spend the night with him and that was progress. Yesterday was the biggest period of time he stayed with her in a long time. Tyler wasn't greatful for much but last night he really got to thinking.

He really was greatful for some things.

He had two friends. It might not seem like a lot but when those two friends obviously try hard to be a better person for you, that can hit you right in the gut. Josh is constantly on that cycle of trying to impress Tyler while also just trying to make him happier. Jenna has her own way of thinking but she really is trying to get her friend back.

Its not her fault anyway, Tyler thought. Life just wasn't on their side. He was used to life beating him down and he had the bruises and scars to prove it. He was used to being abandoned and alone, even if he hated it. He always found himself spiralling down a never ending cycle of perpetual thoughts. Besides, he wouldn't be alone forever. Josh would be coming soon. He was at Church with his family right now.

Such a typical thing that would happen to him. Everyone had these lives and he was stuck here getting fed information from outsiders. He himself should be working a job, going on dates, and praising some lord at a Church with a loving family. Hell, even just riding on a skateboard while singing happily into the sunset. Maybe even finding that special someone. He has wondered for years who that would be.

Tyler got forced back into the present reality when water ran down his nose like a slide and into his mouth. He spit out the water as he stepped away with his hair now matted down over his forehead. He was quick to remove the oxygen tube and wipe it down along with his face with the towel hanging by his side. He sighed as he left it to dangle there. He glared at the tubing before suddenly giving it the middle finger, like it would hurt its feelings at all. He turned his back to the inanimate object. He didn't need that fucking thing.

The teen finished up and made it out of the shower, oxygen tank-less. He stared in the mirror over the sink. The lighting was dim and made his skin have a sickly pale-ish yellow tone. There were still purple bruises all over his body but they were mostly yellow, healing slowly but surely.

Tyler dressed himself no problem. Black tee-shirt that had the state of ohio on it, black jeans, socks, and of course blue underwear hiding from view. It wasn't too bad. It looked like what he would wear at home everyday. He brushed his hair that was sticking in all directions and smiled halfway at himself. He was somewhat proud of how he looked. It wasn't the best but considering his situation it was pretty good.