Carnival✔

9

Josh and Tyler were hanging out today, sitting out on Josh's front step playing with Josh's plastic army men again. Josh kept nervously glancing over at Tyler's house, waiting for the man to come out and come grab him, hurt him like he hurts Tyler.

Both Josh's parents were at work they'd be home in a few hours. Josh hated that they were gone. He wanted them home but they had already missed so much work because of Him so he didnt say anything when they got ready to leave this morning.

They played for another little while before Tyler was called back over to his house. Josh cleaned up his toys and brought them inside before sitting down on his bed. His chest was starting to hurt and his fingers scratched at his thighs. When realized that he was going to have a panic attack soon it didnt help. If anything it made it happen quicker.

His parents werent here. He didnt know what to do. They were always here when he had his attacks. Suddenly he couldnt breathe invisible hands choking him, cutting off his airway. He scratched harshly at his thighs and forearms not realizing the damage he was creating.

He pulled at his hair so hard as he struggled to breathe that he pulled a few strands out. He sobbed to himself, feeling like someone had ripped out his lungs and left his chest open for him to bleed out.

His panic worsened and he became paranoid, scratching at his neck. He was gonna die, he couldnt breathe and now hes gonna die. His parents are gonna come home and hes gonna be dead. His brain doesnt register anything that's happening.

Not even when hes getting up and running to his fathers office or when he grabs the flashlight out of his father's desk or even when hes hiding away in the little crawlspace underneath the stairs like he used to when he was scared as a child.

He closed the little hatch and turned the flashlight on still shaking and sobbing. Everything hurt and he was Terrified. He didnt know why he was scared or what was scaring him though. He threw up on himself from how hard he was sobbing.

By the time his parents got home from work he had passed out. His parents searched the house for him, but had no luck. After a long tiring, worry filled search they finally decided to check the hatch and seen the light from the flashlight shining through the crack at the bottom of the hatch.

They opened it to reveal their son and the sight of him broke their hearts. Josh's dad picked him up gently as his mother grabbed the flashlight and shut it off. He was carried upstairs and laid on his parents bed.

His parents took in how rough he looked. A few bald spots from where he ripped his hair out, scratches on his forearms and neck, blood on his hands from how deep he scratched his clothes covered in vomit and tears dried to his cheeks. He was sweaty too, gross and sticky.

His parents sighed. They rid josh of his vomit and blood stained clothes, giving him a bath, washing the stains off his skin before dressing him in some soft pjs. They laid him down back in their bed and his mother laid with him while his father went to clean up the little hatch.

It was about an hour before Josh woke up. He whimpered and started to cry again. "Hey shh I got you sweetheart you're okay." His mother whispered kissing his forehead and rocking him gently. "Mom." He croaked, burrowing himself further his her hold.

"Shhh its okay." She replied. "Wheres dad?" Josh sniffled. "Hes downstiars making supper. He'll be back up shortly." She said. He relaxed significantly, just paying jn his mother's hold.

He was so relieved that they was home. He didn't have to be alone anymore his parents were here, they would take care of him and keep him safe.  When she shifted slightly josh gripped don't her tightly. "No dont leave me." He cried. "Shh honey I'm not leaving. You're okay." She whispered, gently running her hand through his hair.

When his dad came upstairs he immediately grabbed his hand and held it tightly. "Wanna come downstairs and eat?" His mother asked softly. He thought for a second before nodding. "Dad." He said reaching his arms up.

His father didnt complain or protest about it only picking his son up and carrying him. They knew Josh wouldnt be able to eat properly at the moment so his father had made him a fruit smoothie.

He sipped on it on his parents ate their meals, his chair pulled up at his moms side as be leaned on her shoulder. It was a long night after that. Filled with nightmares and crying and whispered lullabies to calm him down.

Both his parents called off work for the next day,  not wanting to leave josh alone again. They didnt even know what happened or what caused it and clearly they left him alone too early. They wont make that mistake again