From that night on, Tyler still went out to the vessel once midnight came, but instead of a night full of cuddles and kisses and conversations, his night was filled with tears, hollow calls of Josh's name, and endless, repeated searches.

Josh was gone, and Tyler knew it, but he just couldn't let him go.

The alien boy had promised, and that was possibly what got to Tyler the most. Josh had promised he'd be there, that nothing could take them away from each other. But it had happened, and some part of Tyler broke inside.

They had been in love, and it had been ripped away from them like sutures ripped out of a wound.

Though Josh was gone, the vessel still remained. The Others never came back for it, and it was undamaged beyond the normal.

They'd never even gotten to say goodbye. There would be no one last look at Josh's beautiful face, no final goodbye kiss. No desperately holding on to one another as they were separated.

Tyler's life at home was affected, as well. He lost his appetite, his affection for writing and art and music; they all seemed to make it worse. Most of his free time, during the day, was spent just laying on his bed and pretending Josh was right by his side.

The only thing keeping Tyler from collapsing entirely was the hope that Josh hadn't left by choice, that he'd been taken by his parents, who had unknowingly abducted their own son.

He just couldn't believe that Josh would willingly leave him. Not without a goodbye.