We All Scream

|12|

Josh is running through the forest, calling for Tyler. He's searching for him, but Tyler isn't responding. Josh feels the heat of fire and reaches the treehouse. Tyler stands in the window, his silhouette outlined by the bright flames consuming him.

Tap, tap, tap.

Josh sits up in bed. He glances at his window and can barely make out a familiar silhouette. Panic sets in for a second before he realizes the silhouette isn't surrounded by flames. It's been four agonizing days since he saw Tyler last, but he couldn't find any time to let Jordan out of his sight.

He slips out of bed, being careful not to wake Jordan, and opens the window.

"Josh." Tyler hugs him awkwardly across the window sill.

"Tyler," Josh whispers, "what are you doing here?"

"Sorry, but I really miss you. And... I need to tell you something."

"Come in, but be quiet. Jordan is here."

Tyler glances at the bed before climbing in. Josh helps him, trying to be as quiet as possible. They sit on the side of the room opposite the bed.

Josh waits for Tyler to speak.

"I did something today."

"What?"

"Dr. Paulson told me you weren't real. He told me you're a coping mechanism. He tried to convince me you're not real." Josh can hear the red and orange in his voice.

"And did he succeed?" Josh asks.

"I left there completely confused. I know you're real. But he's a professional and..."

"You see me now?"

"Yes."

"And you can feel me?" Josh takes Tyler's hand.

"Yes."

"And you feel this?" Josh kisses him, feeling tangible emotion surge from his heart to his whole body. Tyler has to feel that too.

Once they separate, Tyler sighs. "Yes," he whispers.

"I'm real. They've never seen me. But you have. And even if I'm only real to you, not to anyone else, that's the only thing that f***ing matters, okay?"

"Okay."

"So tell me what you did."

Tyler closes his eyes, then moves his hand. He pulls up the sleeve of his jacket and shows the inside of his left wrist. There are three lines there. Newly cut lines.

"Tyler," Josh breathes.

"I shouldn't have, I know. I was just so confused and... and... and..." Tyler is crying now.

"I'm real, Tyler. I'm real, I'm real, I'm real, I'm f***ing real."

"I know, I know, I know," Tyler groans.

"I'm real."

"I know."

"I'm real."

"I know."

"I'm real," Josh whispers, tears now falling down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry I doubted you. I'm no good without you. I need you with me or I mess everything up."

"Don't do this." Josh gently takes Tyler's arm in his hand and brings it to his lips. He kisses Tyler's wrist lightly three times, being extremely careful not to hurt him. "Don't do this. Remember I'm real. Don't forget about me."

"I won't. I love you."

"I'm real to you," Josh looks in Tyler's eyes.

"That's all that matters."

"You're real to me," Josh says.

"We're real to each other."

"Nothing has ever been more real to me than you have."

Tyler leans forward to kiss Josh. Their tears fall together.

They separate quickly when they hear movement on the bed. Tyler is up and at the window. Josh jumps after him. They kiss one last time before Tyler drops out the window and runs into the night.

"Josh?" Jordan mumbles.

"Yeah?" Josh whispers, heart pounding.

"It's cold."

"I'll close the window, okay?"

"Okay."

Josh takes a last longing glance into the darkness that should be white before pulling the window shut and cutting off the cold air.

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