tyler awoke with a start.
his breathing hitched and he sniffed as he rubbed his eyes to an unfamiliar setting. he sat up immediately and his heart dropped as he couldn't recognize his surroundings.
"oh..." he said, startled, as he realized it was the treehouse he had visited yesterday. he didn't remember falling asleep, but he had also felt like that was the most sleep he had gotten in a while.
groaning as he stretched, he noticed the girl was gone and he was alone. his feet pushed him up from the wooden floor and he stepped to the ladder, then climbed down.
the walk to his house wasn't a long one, but he was still sort of waking up and was feeling actually quite peaceful for once.
as he creaked open the back door and walked inside, he was faced with his dad panicking and grabbing his cell phone from the counter with a terrified expression.
"dad?" tyler called out, confused as to why he was in such a hurry to make a call.
suddenly, his dad stared at him with red, sparkling eyes and dropped his phone to the floor. he was crying.
"oh my god, tyler," the man said with a hoarse, raspy voice and grabbed tyler with all of his might, pulling him in for a large hug.
"dad, what's wrong? why are you shaking?" tyler asked.
"i was so worried about you." his dad replied back. "my god, so worried. where were you all night long?"
"oh," tyler gulped. "i'm really sorry. i, um..."
"what?" his dad pulled away from the hug and looked at him in the eyes.
"i found a treehouse. i know it sounds childish, i know, but i guess it reminded me of the past, and... i guess i also accidentally crashed there."
his dad didn't answer, he just grabbed him for a quick hug again and then tugged at his shirt.
"is that why your clothes are all dirty?"
tyler looked down and noticed the stains. "i guess. i'm sorry. i can clean them later, or-"
his dad interrupted him. "no, no, i'll do it. you know what you should do, though?"
"what?.."
"take a bath in my room. i know that sometimes it's nice to relax for a few, and i don't think you've done that for months."
tyler almost smiled, but instead nodded, agreeing.
"and if you're up for it, maybe we could watch a movie afterwards?" his dad continued. "but it's up to you."
"that's sounds great, dad." tyler released a smile, even if it was a small one.
his dad stared at him again for a minute, then pulled him in for another hug and squeezed him gently. "i'm so glad you're okay, tyler." he sighed into his shoulders. "i thought i lost you, too."
tyler sank into his dad's chest.
"you're not gonna lose me, dad."
~~~~
