40

                                    

                                          
Josh felt good about Tyler’s exposure plan because Josh knew that Tyler could do it. It wouldn’t be an easy feat, but Josh would be there for Tyler every step of the way.
                          
Walking back down the hallway to Tyler’s room, Josh waved to his fellow co-workers, occasionally making small talk along the way.
                          
Josh enters Tyler’s room after knocking on the door, seeing Tyler curled up in his blankets.
                          
“Heyo Tyo!”
                          
“Hi Josh.” Tyler responds, turning his body over to to face Josh.
                          
“What’s up bud? Are you cold??” Noting how Tyler was basically buried in his blankets.
                          
“Y-yeah.” Tyler says, shuffling deeper into his pile of blankets. “B-but don’t leave!”
                          
Josh was basically out of the door already when Tyler eagerly adds his request. This takes Josh by surprise and causes him to quickly turn around, almost giving him whiplash.
                          
“What?” Josh asks, confused.
                          
“I-I sorry. You can go if you wa-nt…”
                          
“Ty, I won’t leave if you don’t want me to.”
                          
“Okay...thank you.”
                          
“Dude, you ain't gotta thank me. Now, want to scoot over, so I can lay next to you?” Josh suggests, inching closer to the bed while Tyler promptly moves over, allowing Josh to get under the blankets.
                          
The first thing Josh notices is that Tyler is not cold. They had three blankets on them, and Tyler was actually sweating.
                          
“Ty?”
                          
“Hmm?”
                          
“You’re not cold; why do you say you are?” Josh outright asks, soon realizing the poor choice as he is met with silence from Tyler. “Ty?”
                          
“Mmm.”
                          
“Can you please answer me? I won’t be mad if that’s what you’re afraid of.” Josh says, using his arm as a pillow. Tyler thinks about it for a second before shaking his head. “Ty. I need you to tell me what’s bothering you, so I can help you.”
                          
Josh decides to give Tyler some time to get the words right. After a few moments, Tyler draws in a deep breath before starting:
                          
“Peo-ple leave me a-lone if I don’t feel good.”
                          
“So you want to be alone right now?”
                          
“I-I want you here.” Tyler says sheepishly, face slightly reddening.
                          
“There’s nothing wrong with that Ty, but can you please tell me why you want to be alone? I won’t leave.”
                          
“People won’t lea-ve me alone. They bo-ther me, force me to do th-ings I don’t want to do, a-nnoy me, treat me like a kid. I just wa-nt a break.”
                          
“Oh Ty, you gotta tell us if you feel that way, we can’t read your mind. We’re never gonna purposely make you do something you don’t want to, and you should know that.”
                          
“Mmm, but I just want a b-reak today.” Tyler sighs out. “Please.”
                          
“Sure, we’ll take it easy today. Nothing but cuddling, how does that sound?” Josh asks, peeling off a blanket layer.
                          
“Good.” Tyler responds with a slight grin on his face as he snuggles deeper into the blankets and closer to Josh.
                          
Josh knows that he needs to tell Tyler about the meeting and the new plan. Josh knows that Tyler won’t be happy about it. Josh knows that they’re planning on starting tomorrow, but Josh didn’t want to ruin this moment for Tyler.