just children once ✓

never go through someone's journal

Aye trigger warning here
<8:30 am, Monday>

"It's all your fault! What were you doing in the forest, anyways?"

"I was just-"

"She's dead because of you."

"You don't mean that."

"... I do."

"Tyler, please-"

"Don't touch me, freak!"

Tyler jerked, waking up at the sound of an alarm going off. He was disoriented and plugged into three different wires. He vaguely remembered the nurse- her name was Valerie- returning to check on them and give them IVs.

He slammed his hand down on the clock. The curtain that separated him and Josh had been pulled shut, and Tyler could hear Debby and Dallon speaking softly.

"... lucky I found it and not your parents. Do you want a repeat of freshman year?"

That was Debby.

"Do you think I do?"

Josh.

"We're just worried."

Dallon.

"There's nothing to be worried about."

"Oh, really? Then why the hell does it say-"

"Please don't read it out loud. I- I can't."

"Then why did you write it?"

"Because I was lost! I was- I was hurting. I was scared and alone."

"We were there, Josh."

"Why do you think I'm still here?"

"Your mom is coming, you know. When she sees all of those new scars-"

"She won't see them. I thought you trusted me more."

"That was before you started again. You know better than anyone else what the signs are."

"What?"

"Change in appearance, change in behavior, mood swings, self-destructive tendencies, giving things away, cutting, your suggestive journal, history of past attempts-"

"Enough, Debs! You're going to drive him into another panic attack."

"Speaking of which, raised levels of anxiety and regular panic attacks are another sign. What is going on, Josh?"

"Nothing, mom. God."

"I know how hard this has to be."

Dallon's voice was level and understanding, while Debby's was full of rage and fear.

Josh snorted.

"You think this is hard for me? Why don't you talk to Tyler, he's the one who's really suffering. I- I have nothing to be sad about."