døg/rabbit~~tysh/jøshler fic

Lover Boy

I had a nightmare. It had nothing to do with Blurryface, or with the incident that landed me in the looney bin. It was different.

I was sitting in my cell as usual, when Josh entered. He sat down next to me and stayed silent for a  few moments. I sat staring straight ahead, not being able to turn to look at the man.

Finally, he spoke.

"Tyler, I have...a proposistion." This is where I was able to see him. He was clean; he wore normal clothes and his hair was more tame. I nodded my head. There didn't seem to be any words in my head or throat.

Josh swallowed harshly and looked me deep in the eyes. "You're free to leave, Tyler, They cleared you. You can go any time you want, but I need to tell you, you can never come back. Ever. Not for anything or anyone, you understand? All of the people in this hospital will be left behind. The community is ready for you. Or, you can stay here. Get extra treatment, serve your time, and go when you think you are ready. Then, if you feel the need, you can come back for anything. It's...it's all up to you, Tyler."

I don't remember what I had said, if anything, to his proposition. All I remember is walking through the tall gates and seeing sunshine for the first time in a while. I let the warmth was over me and let the breeze whisk through my hair and cleanse my soul.

I was free.

I then started wondering around, seeing things that were never there before; the renovated library, the new apartment complex, extra streetlights.

I saw sunlight.

Real sunlight.

Not the florescent hospital lights that were so dismal, death seemed better just so you wouldn't have to stare at them any longer.

I heard talking.

People talking.

Real people talking.

Not nurses with plastered smiles and long syringes or doctors with stone hard eyes. No, these were children chatting with other children, adults laughing over cold drinks, dogs barking hellos. Ice cream and lemonade and happiness that wasn't faked. I was so excited.

But then I realized I had no where to go and no one to celebrate with. I wanted to get in touch with Mark, I didn't know where he lived. My family wouldn't want to see me, they hated me.

Go to Josh. A voice inside of me conducted. I listened.

I shouldn't have listened.

I somehow got to the hospital in a few seconds. I walked towards the extrance, when I saw Josh, looking almost deathly. His cleanliness from the moments before was completely gone; 0his crisp clean shirt was ripped and dirty, his hair disheveled, his eyes close to becoming soulless.

"Oh my god Josh." I whispered, about to step closer.

"No. Tyler, don't. Don't come near me."

"Josh, what do you mean? Did I do something?"

Another step.

"Tyler! Please. Stop."

He's acting foolish, Tyler. Go. Hug him. Tell him you love him.

Another step.

"TYLER. CAN'T YOU LISTEN TO ME. STOP. NOW." Josh was screaming almost bloody murder now. His eyes were watering and his voice was cracking as he yelled for me to stay in place.

"Why Josh? Tell me."

"Just don't move okay? Please. I'll tell you just don't...move." he gulped loudly as he saw that I was complying with his demand.