Allegiant's "Actual" Ending

Chapter 58: Tobias

"You promised me I wouldn't lose you." Christina teases.

The afternoon is brisk and wet. New buds sprout in the grass of the sidewalk, dancing in the sunlight. Light glistens in the puddles of morning rain in the cracks of the sidewalk we stroll down.

"And you didn't" Tris tells her, letting go of my arm and leaning on Christina instead who sways to the side. I grab her arm to give Christina a moment to steady herself.

"Sorry." she sighs sadly before going up in flames with frustration. "I hate having to lean on everybody- literally!"

"It's okay," Christina says exasperatedly. "I'm just glad you're alive. Besides, it's only been a week, and you haven't moved in four months."

"Hey, you don't have a bullet in your head, so I think you're good," my voice wavers from quiet laughter.

Tris smirks at that. "The chest is good enough. So, where is this apartment you speak of?"

"Well, it is a bit further down, just north of the river. On one of the lower floors, but with all the windows you can see a wide stretch of buildings. We are some of the first settlers in the new Chicago, so we get to choose where we live," I explain.

"Where is everyone else?"

"Zeke, Shauna, Amar, George, and I opted to live in the higher floors of the Hancock building, and Caleb and Cara both moved back to the apartments near Millennium Park," Christina fills in.

We walk in silence for a minute when Tris makes a guttural noise, her knee buckles, and my arms reaches for but I'm not fast enough. She falls halfway to the ground before I grab her. I have to use both hands to lift her and pull her up in front of me, so her legs move with mine, with an arm across her waist to keep her steady.

Before she says anything, Christina interjects.

"Again, you're alive."

"Yeah, well, that's only a little important," Tris mutters.

"A little," Christina repeats.

"A little," I confirm. Tris smiles 'a little' and leans her head back on my chest.

After a heartbeat, Christina continues. "Sometimes life sucks," She says. "But you know what I'm holding on for?"

I raise my eyebrows.

She raises her, too, mimicking me.

"The moments that don't suck," she says. "The trick is to notice them when they come around."

I remember hating her the first time I met her, because she was a Candor, because words just dribbled out of her mouth unchecked, careless. But over time she showed me who she really was, a forgiving friend, faithful to the truth, brave enough to take action. I can't help but like her now, can't help but see what Tris sees in her.

Tris visits Christina and everyone every Saturday and I come occasionally. Somehow, Christina has become one of the best friends I have, despite our frequent bickering.

There are all kinds of people in this world. There are the kind like Tris, who, after suffering and betrayal, could still find enough love to make a sacrifice of herself instead of letting her brother. Or the kind like Cara, who could still forgive the person who shot her brother in the head. Or Christina, who lost friend after friend but still decided to stay open, to make new ones.

There are so many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes bravery involves laying down your life for something bigger than yourself, or for someone else. Sometimes it involves giving up everything you have ever known, or everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater.