The Strength of Love

Chapter Seven: The Finish

Chandler couldn't feel anything. It was like he wasn't there at all, he couldn't feel his throbbing leg, or the fracture in his wrist. All he could feel was a soothing cool touch, and a melodic voice, crooning words he could not decipher. Am I in heaven? So this is what dying was like. I'm sorry, Annette. I loved you, and only you. You’re the only one I have ever loved. You were my friend, my lover, my companion, my future. I loved you with a deep, burning passion, and that would have never changed. I would have gladly let you go-in sorrow, in pain- but with joy that you were happy with what you chose. You were, and always would’ve been my world, my dream, my life. In his restless sleep he tossed and turned, murmering and crying. He knew the pain must be unbearable for her, as it was for him. He felt like he was flying on unbroken wings of conscienceness, reaching for something just out of reach. What is it?

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Aidan kept that smile on his face. He saw the silohuette of the building in the distance, gleaming as if it were saying, "You won!" He knew that he had won, Chandler could never have made it before him, injured like that. Chandler. The thought of him dampened his spirits a little. It was mean not to help him. Aidan briskly shook that thought away; Chandler was and would always be competition. He grabbed the handle, thrusting the door open with great confidence. "Annette!" He yelled, running into the building. "Annette?" He looked around frantically, he was so eager to see his best friend and now, fiancee. He jogged down the hall and rounded the corner. He peeked in various doorways. At one, he stopped short. It felt like he had just beat someone to the top of Mount Everest, slammed the flag into the ground, and then stabbed in the back by his competitor. "Annette..." he whispered, staring, bewildered, at Annette comforting an unconcious Chandler in a hospital bed. Aidan watched as Annette's face contorted into a mix of emotions.

"Aidan. Aidan, I'm sorry." She got up and took a step towards him, but her attempts at soothing him would be useless. Before she could take another step in his direction, Aidan was running out of the building.

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Annette watched hopelessly as Aidan ran. What can I say to him now? She had just blatantly chosen Chandler over Aidan. Again, she might add. She slid down into her chair, burying her face in her hands as the tears came. All I ever do is hurt someone. If I do something to help someone, it hurts someone else. Every decision she made, someone got hurt in the end. She sighed in frustration. Little did she know, Chandler had begun to stir. He slowly sat up and tried to sort out his thoughts through a fog of confusion. Through the blur in his eyes, he made out the outline of Annette in the chair next to him and by the muffled sound of crying, he knew she was upset.

"Annette?" He said gently as he extended his arm out and wrapped it around her. Annette quickly took her hands away from her face and looked right at Chandler.

"Chandler!" She chirped happily and had wrapped him in a hug before he could even reply. Chandler winced at the pressure from the hug on his wounds but couldn't help grinning and hugging her back. Suddenly, reality hit him like a train. Aidan had to have gotten there first, he had been lying injured and practically unconcious while Aidan was only yards away from the finish line. Had he won?