Embracing Your Issues.

The Call.

I spent a lot of time with Neil that night. After the date was over, it was really late, and I needed to go home and sleep. Exhausted, I kissed Neil goodnight and hopped out of his truck. I stumbled to my house and dig around in my purse to find my keys for a little bit. After a minute or two, I unlocked the door and dropped my purse on the ground next to me. I shut the door, walked to my room, fell on the bed with all my clothes and makeup on and passed out.

I was awakened by a call from Tyler's mom. After reading her name off the screen, I knew something was wrong and I sprung out of bed. I answered as fast as I could and I could hear crying.

"Hello?" I asked

"Salem..." Tyler's mom said.

"Yes, is everything alright?" I asked panicked.

She began crying. I began crying after she did. I knew what she was about to tell me.

"T-Tyler tried to drive home tonight.." She sad sobbing.

I began to break down. I explained to her that I wasn't at the party for more than 30 minutes and how I wished I could have stopped Tyler.

"He hit a tree driving." She mumbled.

We talked and sat there sobbing for a few more minutes.

I rushed and got into the car and drove to the hospital where Tyler was.

He was in critical condition, with lacerations and broken bones. I went up to the hospital bed and kissed his head. Soon after that, the doctors kicked me out and I sat with Michael and the rest of the band in the waiting room. I was holding onto Michael, as he was trying to explain what happened.

'We tried to stop him, we really did." Michael said.

"It's going to be okay, you guys. He's being taken care of and we're all gonna be alright."

We waited and waited and waited for many hours. We talked about the things we loved about tyler and we talked about our many memories with him. We tried to make the best of sitting in the waiting room. We all prayed, cried, hugged, and waited. Our hearts stopped when the doctor came out of the hospital room with Tyler's hysterical mother.

"We couldn't save him." The doctor said.

My whole world stopped. I clung to Michael and began to cry. Suddenly, I felt the urge to go see Tyler for one last time. I stood up and began to run past the doctor to get to Tyler.

"Salem!" everyone yelled

"Mam, you can't go back there!" a nurse yelled.

Two strong men stopped me from getting in the doors and they yanked me back.

"You can't go in there." They said.

"Why can't I?! Tyler is my best friend, I need to see him one last time!" I screamed

"I'm so sorry, you just can't!" they said.

"I have to! Fuck you all! I have to!" I screamed.

We were all in hysterics. I had Michael and Josh drive me home later that day. The car ride was silent and awful. Soon, we arrived at my house and I hugged them both goodbye, very tightly.

"Stay safe, and call me later, okay?" I asked.

"Yes, we will do both." Josh said.

I got out of the car and slumped into my house. I wasn't expecting what I saw when I walked in my room....