Rock Bottom - Joshler

2

Tyler pulled his hood up and and ducked inside the pharmacy, glad to be under cover but still shaking from both anxiety and the cold. His hands were trembling, so he shoved them inside his pockets and began to browse the painkiller section.

He looked at the medicine, barely able to pronounce half of the names. He sighed. All of this was a lot easier when everything was prescribed.

His eyes flickered to the security cameras in the store corners. The employee at the counter didn't seem to be paying much attention, so he turned his back to the camera and slid a packet of painkillers into his pocket, not bothering to read the label.

He quickly began walking away. He was almost at the door when he caught the employee's attention.

Tyler turned when the young man called him over. Tyler didn't look like much like a drug addict, per se, but he didn't look very healthy, either. He had lost an immense amount of weight when he got sick and was never really able to regain it. His skin was pale and cold. His face was hollow and the bags under his eyes suggested that he hadn't slept in weeks, which he practically hadn't.

The employee eyed him suspiciously.

"Empty your pockets," he demanded.

Tyler's eyes widened. He pulled the medicine out of his pocket with shaking hands and placed it on the counter, looking at the floor. His breath caught in his throat when he heard the employee calling the police.

The young worker pulled Tyler into the back of the shop and had him sit there. Tyler tried to protest, but the man just ignored him and locked the door.

Tyler slid down the wall and held his head in his hands. He tried to calm his uneven breathing and tugged at his hair, regret swimming in his stomach and setting like a rock. His anxiety was clawing at his insides, tearing him apart. Tyler was doing everything he could to stop himself from crying.

When the police arrived, they seemed unimpressed by Tyler. Most of them left, but one cop sat down and pulled out a notebook.

"I'm Suki," she smiled, slightly comforting Tyler.

"I'm Tyler," the boy replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Tyler Joseph."

Suki nodded and wrote that down. She asked a few more questions about Tyler and wrote all of it down.

Suli pursed her lips and met Tyler's eyes. "Are you gonna tell me why you were stealing?"

Tyler visibly shrunk and shrugged in response.

"We can do this at the station if you want," Suki warned.

Tyler sighed shakily. "I- I need the pain meds."

Suki motioned for him to go on. Tyler fiddled with his fingers, not wanting to talk.

"I had cancer, leukaemia, a couple of years ago," he explained. "The doctors prescribed me pain medication, and I... I kind of got addicted. I've been to rehab before, but I- I get really bad without them, and sometimes it feels like I'm really sick again. I live with my brother, and he refuses to give me money for the meds. He couldn't, anyway. He spent all of it on my treatments and then rehab."

Suki frowned. "Is this your first time offence?"

Tyler nodded desperately. Truthfully, he had stolen before, but this was the first time he had ever gotten caught.

"I still have to tell your brother," Suki said.

Tyler's shoulders slumped. He looked down and picked at his nails, trying to hide his watering eyes. He stayed there as Suki spoke to the employee, but he had zoned out. His own thoughts were blocking his ears and feeding into his fear. Tyler physically shivered when he thought about Zack finding out about this.

Suki tapped him on the shoulder and led him out of the shop. He took a deep breath and climbed into the backseat of the police car, trying to stay calm as he told his address to Suki. She shot him a sympathetic smile in the rear view mirror and started to drive.

Zack ran outside when he saw then cop car pull into their driveway. Tyler sheepishly got out and slipped into the house, letting Suki explain everything to his brother. He made his way to his room, praying that Zack, by some miracle, wouldn't come to talk to him.

Of course, a few minutes later, there was a quiet knock on Tyler's door and it creaked open. Zack sat down next to Tyler on the bed and wrapped his arm around his little brother's shoulders. Tyler held his breath, trying not to let out a sob, and wiped his wet cheeks.

"I'm really sorry you're going through this," Zack said.

"I'm so sorry," Tyler whispered.

Zack shook his head. "No, Ty, it's... what you did was stupid, it was really fucking stupid, but all of this isn't your fault. Getting sick, getting... addicted. I know how hard you've had to fight this."

Tyler brushed a tear from his face. "You're gonna send me to rehab again, aren't you?"

Zack stayed silent, but that was enough of an answer. Tyler let out a sob and leant against his brother's side, letting himself be engulfed in the familiar comfort.

Zack spoke after a few minutes, when Tyler's sobs had turned into quiet hiccups. "It's the Columbus one."

Tyler shot up. The first two times he went to rehab, it was a place in Columbus, the Harmony Rehabilitation Centre, that specialised in trouble youth. It was a good place, but Zack could barely visit. Ohio was next to Indiana, but it was still a long drive.

"Columbus? The first one? Why are you sending me back there? It's so far away, and-"

Zack cut him off. "It's fine, Tyler. It's really not that far."

Tyler shook his head. "Please, Zack. It's too far away."

Zack pulled Tyler to his chest. "I'm sorry, but you need this. You need to get better."

Tyler closed his eyes, wishing away the whole situation. He wasn't ever going to get better. So what was the point in even trying anymore?