drown (joshler)

part twenty four

tyler stood with both hands gripping his oxygen cart. he was right next to his bed, his leg holding him up against the bed. josh stood with tyler's dream blue sweater in his hands while tyler stripped to just his black knee high socks and his boxers. josh slipped the sweater over tyler's shoulders as he threw the gown aside. tyler sat down and pulled on the black skinny jeans that he came in with in october that were a size too big. he put on white sneakers and took josh's hand to stand up. josh unfolded the wheelchair and helped tyler into it

josh wheeled tyler to the elevator. tyler held josh's suitcase on his lap, and tyler's bag was slung around josh's shoulder. his bag held his book, his ukelele, and his phone charger.

"do we need to stop at your house to grab anything?" josh asked as they sat alone in the elevator.

"no," tyler said quickly. "never going back."

"got it."

they wheeled out of the elevator and checked out at the desk. josh set down his suitcase to take tyler's papers, and held onto tyler's hand when he stuffed them into his bag.

josh helped tyler into the passenger seat of the car and folded tyler's wheelchair, put it in the back, and walked to the driver's seat.

"hey." josh said. tyler turned his head to reveal soft tears in his eyes. josh put his hand on the side of tyler's face and tyler leaned his head into the touch. "you made it, tyler," josh said, moving his hand to tyler's and squeezing it. "you made it."

"thank you josh." he whispered back. josh smiled and turned the keys in the ignition and pulled out of the parking spot.

they pulled onto the highway, and started their drive to a better place, a better city. a better life.

they were going home.