Flip Side of Love

Chapter 13

Christopher huffed, vision blurring as he continued to beat the bag in front of him. He wanted to feel something, something other than the burning anger that was coursing through his veins. He was paralysed, and it killed him everyday. Everyday he asked himself where his feelings were, where the real him had disappeared to, and how to stop feeling so lost. He spent most of his free time in the gym now, beating something to the point he could not feel his arms, and running until his legs could barely support him. He felt justified, telling himself that by breaking his body he was slowly paying off his debt. He broke his promise, and this was the only thing he could do to make amends.

"Christopher!" The voice shook him out of his concentrated state. Causing his punch to land weakly, in turn throwing him off balance and sending him stumbling. The bag saving him from falling flat on his face.

"What!" He snapped, not bothering to turn around to see who had disturbed him. Struggling, he finally managed to stand straight without the help of the punching bag.

"You can't keep doing this, it's not healthy."

"I'd listen to him." She had been quiet the entire day, why did she have to start talking now? Christopher thought they had come to an understanding, during that drive home.

"Shut up!" He growled.

"Ouch. That hurts you know?" She pouted, her hand going to her chest above her heart.

"I don't care," Christopher snapped.

"Well you might not care but I do, and I can't keep doing this anymore. I can't keep carrying you back to your home, barely responsive because you've exhausted yourself. You're killing yourself Christopher, and that's not what she would've wanted, why can't you get that through your thick skull!?" Austin yelled at him, anger barely restrained.

"You know that, how huh!? Are you having secret communications with her!?" Christopher yelled with just as much bite.

"Of course not you idiot! I know enough that no one wants to watch their loved one deteriorate because of them. I know that! You know that!"

"I made a promise Austin okay! I made a promise, and..." Christopher didn't get to finish his sentence before he let out a frustrated scream.

"Whatever promise you made--"

"I can't do one simple thing for her." Christopher admitted, as the tears started streaming down his face.

"As I was saying, whatever promise you made. Whatever's hanging over your, haunting you, it's nothing compare to that girl's love for. She would have forgiven you. Whatever this is, she would have forgiven you."

"You don't understand," Christopher said, defeated.

"Maybe not, but I'm in pain too. We all are just barely keeping ourselves together, but after what happened with her... We can't afford... We can't afford to watch you kill yourself. Because that's what you're doing Christopher, you're killing yourself."