charpim oneshots | smiling friends

The Tree Incident | 1/2

TW: GORE, SUICIDE

"Is this upsetting anybody, huh?!? Is this making you uncomfortable?!"

splat

Pim hasn't been eating or sleeping properly. For the past two weeks, he'd been pacing his room, freaking out over recent events. He had frequent panic attacks at night, and he'd spend his entire day crying over Charlie. Nothing could have prepared him for the loss he was enduring; nothing could have prepared him for watching Charlie die.

"Be careful, Charlie."

Those were Pims last words to Charlie. They weren't spoken out of concern, they were spoken to further push Charlie to argue, over an argument that Pim now realized was so stupid and unnecessary. For the rest of his life, he'd have to live with the fact that their last conversation together was an argument that Pim dug up out of nowhere. One that shouldn't have taken place at all, especially not during Christmas. Pim's photos with Charlie were now torn down from his wall, scattered across the bedroom floor. The frames were replaced with holes the size of Pim's fists. He didn't care what his landlord thought of him, or the consequences of his actions. Nothing mattered anymore, because he didn't want to live. He couldn't live with the guilt of knowing what he did just before Charlie died.

He had to watch his best friend, his potential lover, be lowered into the ground on Christmas Day. All because Pim insisted on arguing. He couldn't help but blame himself for what happened. 'What-if's ran though his head on a constant loop, occupying every waking second of every day.

Alan and Glep visited Pim's apartment a few times since the incident. Even the boss dropped by once or twice, all bearing 'get-well-soon' cards or snacks to cheer him up. It made Pim feel disgusting. His best friend was crushed to death. And yet, he was the one recieving all the pampering? He despised it, and would always throw away gifts.

He avoided work for a while, unable to get out of bed most days. All the energy he had left was wasted on his endless stream of tears and panic attacks.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the viscera laying at his feet. He saw Charlie's eyeball roll out of his skull, he saw the crushed bones lay on either side of the tree trunk. He saw it clear as day. It drove him insane.

At first, he could avoid it by refusing to sleep and turning to alcohol. But as the days passed, he started seeing it without closing his eyes. He saw it everywhere he went. At that point, he realized that he needed something, anything, to take his mind off of it. He couldnt bear to see it anymore.

For the first time in two weeks, Pim decided to go to work. He knew he wouldn't be much help to any client he got assigned to, considering his current state, but he didn't care. He just needed to be out of the house.

He drove silently to his workplace, his mind never relenting to torment him. He sighed as he parked next to the sidewalk, not bothering to correct his parking or even lock his car.

He walked into his building, his gaze never leaving the dirty tiled floor. He walked into the break room, and couldn't help but catch a glimpse of Glep's pitiful gaze towards him.

"Hey Pim. How are you doing, buddy?" Alan asked softly, taking the seat next to Pim and placing a hand on his shoulder.

Pim immediately felt tears sting his eyes again. He glanced up at Alan with an anger he hadn't ever experienced.

"That's Charlie's spot."

Alan's eyes widened, realizing the mistake he had made. He quickly got up and pushed the chair back in, standing on the other side of Pim's chair. "I'm so sorry, Pim. I wasn't thinking."