“What is the matter with you?” I snapped as soon as we stepped out of Christie’s room and out of earshot. “Why are you being like this, huh? You know she can’t take shit like this right now.”
Tommy just shook his head and went to sit down on a nearby bench. “This is hard for me too, y’know,” he argued. “I mean, she’s sick, you’re gone. You’re not yourself anymore, baby.” The anger in his eyes melted away, revealing an overwhelming sadness.
“How can I be myself when one of my best friends is dying?” I cried, flinging my hand in the direction of Christie’s room. “Tommy, there’s a ninety-five-percent chance that she’s not gonna walk out of this hospital.” I paused. “And you know why?” Tommy just stared back at me. “It’s because I wasn’t there for her! If I’d been at home, none of this would’ve happened.” I hung my head guiltily.
My glitterbaby stood up and walked over to me, placing his hands on my shoulders. “Listen to me, Babyboy,” he said softly. “Even if you had been there, this probably would’ve happened anyway.”
“Don’t say that!” I tried to back away, but his grip was firm and he didn’t let go of me.
“You know she had self-harm problems when she was a teenager. Sooner or later, stuff like that is bound to recur. No matter how much you want to, it’s not necessarily something you can prevent.” Tommy paused for a second, then added quietly, “You know she doesn’t want this.”
My head jerked up and I glared at him, jabbing a defiant finger in his face. “I don’t care! I signed those papers. Don’t say anoth—”
“And you know the only reason you’re doing this is because you’re too afraid to let her go. Adam, if there’s one thing I know, it’s that you don’t mess with fate. You can’t keep her here forever, if that’s not what’s supposed to happen.”
I felt like I’d just been slapped. I stood there, gaping openmouthed at him, my eyes wide with shock. “Tommy, how could you—”
“You know it’s true.” His voice was stern and dangerously quiet. After a very uncomfortable silence, he added, “If you love her, Adam, you’ll let her go.” He sat down on one of the nearby benches, his back turned to me.
That’s when I turned to face him. Tears stung my eyes as I stared, brokenhearted, at my pixie-like boyfriend. How could someone so small have so much power inside? But that’s when everything gave way and I finally collapsed down next to him on the bench.
“Still. I just…I don’t understand why she—” I felt so helpless as I rested my head on Tommy’s shoulder. He hugged me tightly and kissed the corner of my mouth.
“I know, it hurts. It hurts me too. You may not think so, but it does.” He leaned up and, with his thumbs, wiped away my tears and more of the smudged eyeliner that rimmed my eyes. “But she needs us to be strong for her now, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do, no matter how hard it is. You hear me?”
I nodded. “I hear you,” I said. “And I’m sorry for being such an ass back in there.”
Tommy gave me a tight-lipped grin. “It’s okay. I understand why. Just know that I’m here for you, and I’m here for Christie, too. Alright?”
Then I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, letting another bout of tears fall from my eyes. He took my face in his hands and kissed me softly on the mouth, briefly flicking his tongue inside. I smiled into the kiss and pressed harder, closer to him. I missed this. I needed this. And in a way, I think he did, too.
YOU ARE READING
Aftermath
FanfictionChristine has a few demons that have been silent for several years. When they resurface, can her roommate, Adam, save her from herself, or will it be too late?
