Josh paced back and forth, his stomach queasy and his heart feeling as if it could burst. Tyler had been immediately rushed to the ER, and Josh still hadn't gotten much of an update on his status. He wasn't much of a pessimist, however, but he was beginning to think the worst.

He still wasn't even certain about what had happened; an officer had spoken to him, telling him that there had been some type of explosion, and Tyler was just a bystander caught in it. They would be investigating it, the officer had said, but Josh was too restless. He wanted to know what happened and he wanted to investigate the scene himself.

He bit his lip, tears threatening to spill. If only he hadn't asked Tyler to get him something to leave; He could have very well done it himself. Who was to know what condition his best friend was in? it was all his fault, he decided. If only he hadn't whined like he did.

Josh continued his pacing, realizing that he was only  aggressively doing so to keep himself from crying.

And when he stopped, that's just what he did.

He collapsed into a chair, sobbing loudly as he buried his face in his hands.

He knew one thing, and it was that he'd be broken if he lost Tyler.

Losing him would be like losing half of himself.

"Josh?"

Josh looked up quickly, hus eyes meeting a doctor standing before him.

"Are you Josh Dun?" He questioned.

Josh nodded, brining himself to his feet as his shaky knees made his wobble a bit. "I-is Tyler...?"

The doctor sighed, his heart sank.

"No..."

"The explosion killed the other person in the coffee shop."

Josh's lower lip began to tremble. "And T-Tyler..?"

"Let's just say he's lucky."

Josh's heart almost lifted itself back up from the pit of his stomach. "You mean..?"

"He's stable; he has injures but he's okay."

Josh sighed in relief, looking up to the sky as if making eye contact with God himself. "Thank you..." tears filled his eyes. Stable was all he needed to hear.

"One thing..."The doctor added.

Josh looked back down, a small smile of relief still plastered on his face. "Yeah?"

"His....ears suffered a lot of damage." The doctor sighed. "He's deaf."

Josh's smile faded. "W-What do you mean?" He stuttered.

"The sound of the explosion...he's deaf."

The word rang through his mind.

Deaf? That would mean that he couldn't sing anymore.

He wouldn't be able to hear music anymore.

He wouldn't hear the cheer of his fans anymore.

Being deaf would take everything from him. His life would be over.

"No.." he was in denial. "There has to be something you can do."

The doctor shook his head. "I'm sorry." He muttered. "There's nothing that can be done."

"No!" Josh Shouted, burying his head in his hands. "This is all my fault.."

The doctor looked down to his feet as Josh sobbed quietly. This would take away everything that Tyler loved, Everything he ever wanted to do with his life.

The things that saved his life.

As Josh continued crying, and the doctor placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. "Do you want to go see him?"

Josh looked up before rubbing his eyes, nodding slowly. "Yeah.." he mumbled. "Yeah, I do..."

The doctor patted him on the back, before turning and leading him down the hall. When they approached Tyler's room, the doctor motioned for Josh to go in, a weak smile on his face.

Josh bit down on his lip hard, almost enough to draw blood as he reached out a trembling hand to turn the doorknob. He felt sick; did he really want to do this? See his best friend like this? Would he blame him for what happened?

He wouldn't be able to bear his best friend holding a grudge like that- he already blamed himself enough.

Josh took a deep breath as he turned the doorknob, opening the door slowly. His eyes slowly met the bed where Tyler lay, and he could swear his friend looked smaller and more fragile, cuts and bruises covering his body as his face rested, eyes shut.

"Is he asleep?" Josh muttered to the doctor, who stood in the doorway.

"He's just sleeping." He reassured him.

Josh nodded. "Can...I wake him?"

"Go ahead."

Josh walked slowly to his friend's bedside, he reached out and touched Tylers hand gently, causing him to stir.

"Tyler.." He whispered, before shaking his head.

Instead he gently shook his friend, and he awoke with a jolt, sitting up before wincing from the pain. He made eye contact with Josh as if to understand what was happening.

Josh looked back at him with tears building up in the corners of his eyes, moving his hand to his shoulder.

Tyler's eyes followed the hand, but returned to his friend's face.

"What happened?" He had tried to say, only he didn't hear the words come out of his mouth.

"Get me a piece of paper." The doctor demanded a nurse that was walking by as Tyler's eyes grew wide.

His large eyes met Josh's, filled with fear.

Josh covered his face with his hands; his heart felt weak. He couldn't stand to see Tyler waking up to learn that his life was changed forever.

All he knew to do was hug his best friend, who hugged him back weakly as he stared at the doctor who now held a clipboard and a pen.

He took a moment to write, before handing the clipboard to Tyler, who continued to stare at him with trembling hands. He took a look down.

You were in an explosion in the coffee shop. From the sound of the blast, you've lost your hearing.

As Tyler read it, his face fell.

"I'm sorry....i'm sorry, Tyler." Josh muttered into his ear helplessly.

Tyler shook his head, an expression of anger taking over his face.

He took the pen and wrote.

When will it come back?

The doctor gave him a look that told him the chances were low.

I won't be able to hear ever again?

The doctor averted his eyes from Tyler's gaze as his brown eyes filled with tears.

Josh leaned down and kissed his friend on the top of the head as he began to sob, his mind racing with what on earth he was to do now.

"I'm so sorry..." Josh continued mumbling, through he knew Tyler could no longer hear him.