Shaking Shoulders // Joshler

Twelve

Tyler's POV

The next two weeks went by just as quick as every other with Josh. He made time fly by with me just like he used to and I was happy once again.

However, my dad has been acting strange lately. I wouldn't have noticed if Josh didn't go home today to go see his mom who just got back from her business trip. My dad's been coughing nonstop and he claims he's fine but I feel like he's sick or something which would explain why he looks so much more skinnier then he did last month.

Later on Josh and I messed around in his basement making even more music. I enjoy making music with him, it's just a way we bond with each other I guess and he makes it so much fun. It got late and Josh's mom wanted to watch a movie with him so I politely left unbothered. I came home and I decided I was in the mood for popcorn and a movie so I walked into the kitchen to find my dad on the floor unconscious with drops of blood on the corner of his mouth. Immediately I called 911 but I was so shocked and nervous. As I continued to freak out I got on my knees and put my head on his chest and tried to hear his heartbeat. I didn't hear it over my heavy breathing at first but it was very faint and I realized it was there helping me calm down the slightest bit.

Finally the ambulance came and took him on a stretcher. I started to cry more when I saw his lifeless arm fall to the side of it.

~

Why are the walls always white in a hospital? It doesn't matter what room your'e in, it's always a blinding white. I texted Josh telling him where I was and he wanted to come but I told him to stay home with his mom. I should have had him come because the nurses don't tell me anything and I have nothing to do. It's got to be two in the morning by now; I put my head in my hands as I sit trying my best to not fall asleep.

I was scared by someone putting their arm on my back. To my relief it was Josh and I got up and hugged him relieved to see him. His smell comforted me as he handed me a cup of coffee and a phone charger. I kissed his cheek and plugged my phone into the outlet behind me. I sipped on my coffee while Josh rubbed my back.

Finally a nurse came and got me. I looked at Josh and he nodded and motioned his hand for me to go and I certainly didn't want to go alone.

"I bet tonight's been hectic for you hun." The nurse says nicely.

"Yeah, is my dad okay?" I don't mind talking to her, she's really kind but the reason why I'm here is not to make friends.

"Not quite. I don't know if he told you about his condition before you came down here but he was so excited to have you come down and-"

"Wait. What condition?" I interrupt her. Does my dad have some sort of disease I don't know about?

"Oh. I would have thought he mentioned this to you, I'm so sorry."

"Ma'am please I'm so confused on what's going on." I reply. What the hell didn't my dad tell me?

"I'm sorry dear but it's for him to talk about to you not me." She stopped walking and opened the door to our left. Inside my father was in bed watching TV with tubes in his nose and an IV. I sighed and the nurse left. I pulled up a chair to my dad's bed nervous of what he has to tell me.

Josh's POV

I sat in the waiting room bored, Tyler has been gone for twenty minutes. I couldn't believe Ty's dad was actually in the hospital and poor Tyler has been here all night. I hope his father's sickness is nothing too serious but he's been coughing ever since I met him. I grabbed Ty's phone and went to the gift shop to get his dad something and all they had were stupid cards and stuff. I ended up getting him a vase of flowers and a get well soon balloon. That's not too much right?

I ask the nurse who took Tyler where his dad's room was while she was talking to another. "231." She replied smiling looking up at my balloon. "Thank you." I replied heading down the brightly lit hallway. Good thing I don't have to go up a floor, I always have the fear of dropping my phone down that crack in elevators.

I knocked before coming in the room. I saw Ty asleep on the small couch next to his dad's bed. Only twenty minutes and he passed out, typical. I turned my gaze back to his dad and he looked at me, his eyes drooping. His gaze shifted to my hands and I realized I was still holding his flowers and balloon. I laughed awkwardly and set them down on his table.

"Josh. I need to talk to you and it might take awhile. Is that okay?" His voice was awfully hoarse and barely audible .

"Yeah of course." I pulled up a chair to his bed and prepare myself for him to speak again.

"Do you love Tyler?" he coughed trying to be quiet so he wouldn't wake up his son.

"Yes sir. I do."

"Will you promise to take care of him?" he continued to have his eyes at me.

"Yes sir."

"and to never hurt him again."

"Of course sir."

"Hey." he pointed his finger at me. "Stop calling me sir before I hurt you" He said seriously.

I cracked a smile because he is always cool and isn't mean to me so I knew he was joking. He quietly laughed and then coughed.

"Josh?" his smile broke and he looked away from me.

"Yeah?"

"I want you to know I have lung cancer and the next few weeks might be really hard for Tyler. I need you to be there for him. He already knows and he fell asleep really upset." He looked over at his son and sighed.

"He's already gone through so much in his life and all these years when I wasn't around I was smoking." He rubbed his face while his voice cracked. I tried to comfort Tyler's dad as much as I could while he silently cried. Soon after he confessed he told me it was too late for them to do anything and that his cancer had spread. All he had to do was wait to go.