By Your Side (Twenty One Pilots)

Reality To Me

"My parents never treated me the same after that. They acted like I was a criminal. They never even listened to what I had to say," Tyler whispered. "I got fed up with it. So I left."

Josh looked into Tyler's eyes, his deeply sad and lonely eyes. He wished he could take all the pain and hurt that Tyler's parents had caused and thrown it all away. He didn't want his best friend to hurt anymore. He wanted him to be okay.

Josh wanted to say something to comfort Tyler, but he didn't know what he was going through. He would never feel those same emotions. He didn't know what Tyler needed to hear. So instead he opened his arms and let his small, fragile hearted best friend lean against his chest and cry. He let him cry until there was nothing left. He let him cry about everything. From childhood pains and heartbreak, to insecurities and uncertainties. He never stopped him once. Not even when his shirt was soaked with tears. Not even when the clock under the TV displayed one in the morning. Not even when the crying turned to quiet whimpers. He let him get all of it out. He let himself be Tyler's person at that moment.

It was nearing two when Tyler finally pulled away. His eyes were red and puffy and his hands still shaking, but Josh could tell that he was at peace with himself at that moment, and that's all he could ask for.

Tyler opened his mouth to say something, but Josh interrupted him.

"Don't even thing for a second about apologizing."

Tyler shut his mouth and looked down at his lap.

"Everyone needs that every now and then. You needed it now, and that's okay."

Tyler slowly nodded his head.

"Thank you for sharing all that with me."

After another long embrace, the two went to bed. Christmas was in a few days and they still had to wrap everything. After that, they were headed off by New Years.

Josh say in his bed and thought more after saying good night to Tyler. How could a kid so loving and kind have such a hard thing happen to him? How long had he been on the streets? Did his parents care? Did they try to find him? How did he even survive? Did he have money or a job or a way to get food? Did he steal? Was he a thief? Had he committed crimes? What else didn't Josh know about Tyler? What was he really like?

Josh had so many questions for his best friend. He wanted to know everything. He wanted to know about the time Tyler spent away from his home. What it was like. How he did it all. How he turned out to be okay. Josh wanted answers, but he knew not to push Tyler for any information. He would tell him when and if he wanted to. And with that, Josh fell asleep.

They were both up surprisingly early the next morning. They took the bus downtown to go buy wrapping paper and spent sometime in the local thrift shop just to see who could find the worst, or really, best, Christmas sweater.

"Dude," Josh said as he stepped out of the dressing room. "Really?"

Tyler had walked out on a bright pink sweater with a sparkly white reindeer on it. The reindeer had flashing Christmas lights tangled in its antlers and a big bow tied around its neck. It was meant for Tyler.

"Hey!" Tyler defended himself. "Its no better than yours!"

Josh looked down and laughed at what he had put on. His sweater was a deep purple with a shirtless Santa standing on the beach. "Merry Christmas" was embroidered on it in a tacky print don't, and glitter was laced into almost every stitch. It had lace trim all along the bottom. It was perfect.

At the end of the day, and after asking three other people, one of whom included the old lady behind the counter, they decided that it was a draw. They both proudly wore their sweaters all the way home.

It was dinner when Tyler turned to Josh again with a serious look on his face.

"When I was out on my own," Tyler said, "I learned things."

Josh nodded his head. "Okay, and?"

"And what I'm saying is that if anything goes wrong, like on the street, I an get us out of it."

"Really?" Josh asked.

"Yeah."

Josh nodded his head again, this time more confidently. He was more intrigued now than he had been last night. He wanted to know everything Tyler had to say. He wanted to hear all his stories. But he didn't want to say anything.

"Okay," Josh replied.