frankenmuth michigan, september 27th, 2019.
i have always stayed in frankenmuth, never left my hometown. me and josh were friends all of our lives, shared everything, did everything, hooked up every now and then, but it was a friendship, a best friendship. then, things took off for him and his band, touring non stop, Rolling Stone and the New York Times were watching their every move. but it all changed.
when i walked into the kitchen, i looked through my mail. josh was on the front cover of every single magazine. they all read tragedy. 'greta van fleet lead singer goes downwards; drugs and alcohol to blame.' and 'it's soon over for greta van fleet; josh kiszka near his breaking point.' tears filled my eyes. i couldn't believe what i just read. josh? drugs? alcohol? somethings have changed. then i heard a knock on my door.
'just a minute!!' i said, wiping my tears. i walked to the door and opened it 'josh? what?' josh stood at my door, leaning on the frame, his sunglasses were midnight black to hide his bloodshot eyes and bags underneath them. his hair was all messy and his clothes were stained.
'tessa' he whispered, holding back tears. 'i need help.' he charged at me for a hug, i hugged him harder than i've hugged anyone in my entire life. we both let our tears out. i pulled away from the hug.
'i- of course i can help you.' i said, my cheeks were on fire from the tears. 'sit on the couch.'
he sat on the couch with his head in his hands. i wanted to keep crying, but he needed someone strong in that moment.
'why?' i asked. 'what happened to the josh i knew? the josh who aced his classes, the josh who made the track team, the josh who let me cry to him, the josh who loved life and everything in it, the josh who held me tight. where is he?' i rubbed his back for comfort.
'it became too much' he whispered. 'album, tour, album, tour. it was all too much. writing songs felt like a job, not something that flowed out of me anymore. every girl was in the palm of my hand, every rockstar edged me to do drugs. the alcohol came with the stress. did you know that i had never touched a drop of alcohol until our 2 tour? i want things back to the way they were. i want to be in frankenmuth for awhile, i need a break, i need help.'
'stay here.' i said 'stay in this house with me. im going to help you withdrawal, i want you to be the josh i knew, the old josh. it'll be hard, but im willing to help you if you're willing to change.'
'i-im willing' he said. 'please take care of me.' he asked.
'of course i will.' i reassured him. 'go get a shower, im going to get you some stuff.'
'tessa' he said, looking up. 'marry me.'
'no.' i said, giving him a peck on the nose.
i knew what i had gotten myself into, i was ready for it.
