Chapter 4.
1781 Words
Christian.
Victoria’s mood had been off all day, even though she seemed happier than usual. The way she spoke as we sat to have lunch earlier triggered something deep inside me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. I thought maybe her parents had finally made up, but her happiness felt... forced.
As I walked home, I felt a sharp poke from my backpack. I took it off and noticed a pink note sticking out from the side pocket. My stomach tightened. I unfolded the note, and the words punched me in the gut.
"Dear Christian,
Thank you for always being an amazing friend to me. You made me happy during my last moments. It was never your fault. I’m just tired, and it’s best if I leave this world. It’s been a lonely journey, and I see no reason to keep living.
XO, Victoria."
My heart dropped. *No, no, no...* I read it again, trying to make sense of it. Why didn’t I notice? Why didn’t I realize? She didn’t even take the route home today. I waved her off, but she took the left, the road leading to the bridge.
Panic surged through me. I had to stop her. My legs felt like lead, but I ran anyway, as fast as I could. Every step felt slower than the last, my body weighed down by my obesity.
I cursed my heavy frame, the burgers and pizza that made it so hard to move fast. But none of that mattered now. I had to get to her.
As I neared the bridge, I saw her. Victoria stood on the edge, her eyes closed, one hand already free from the railing. My lungs burned, my legs screamed, but I forced myself to keep running.
"Victoria!" I shouted, my voice hoarse. She slowly opened her eyes, startled to see me there.
"Christian?" she whispered, surprise flickering in her gaze.
"Please... don’t do this," I begged, trying to catch my breath.
"There’s nothing left for me," she said softly, her voice hollow. "This world doesn’t have space for people like me. No one will care if I’m gone. Just... let me go in peace. Please, Christian... look the other way."
Her words were so calm, so heartbreakingly resigned. It was like she had shed every tear she had and now there was nothing left inside her but emptiness. She always smiled for everyone else, but I never saw the depth of the pain she carried until now.
My chest tightened as I realized just how much she’d been hiding. I had to help her see that she wasn’t alone, that she mattered. But I was running out of time.
"What about me?" I called out, my voice cracking under the weight of my fear. "Am I just a passerby in your life? Don’t you think you’re being selfish, Victoria?" My throat tightened as I fought to keep my emotions in check. "I’ll never forgive myself if you die. You were the only one who welcomed me... the only person who became my friend when no one else would. Every day, I get excited to go to school because I know I’ll see you. Is that nothing to you?"
I paused, my chest heaving as I walked closer to where she stood on the railing. The rushing water below seemed louder, more threatening.
"I don’t want to lose you," I said, my voice breaking. "You mean everything to me. You made my world brighter, gave me something to look forward to. Please, Vicky, don’t leave me." Tears filled my eyes, and I couldn’t hold them back any longer. I sobbed openly, the desperation clear in every word.
But she stayed silent, her expression unreadable as she stared at me, teetering between life and the abyss. The weight of my words hung in the air, and I could only hope they were enough to reach her before it was too late.
************
Victoria.
Hearing Christian say those words struck me, I was dumbfounded. He was shedding tears like a baby, I've never seen Christian cry like that. He and I get bullied alot but he always stands infront of me to take all the blows and kicks.
My poor friend, sobbing below me on his knees. Just an inch from me. He cares about me. Why didn't I think of him? He would never forgive himself if I did this.
"Please, Victoria, I beg you. Don’t do this. You have me. Even if the world is against us, I’ll never leave your side. I’m always here for you," Christian sobbed, his voice trembling with raw emotion.
I loosened my grip on the railing, intending to reach for him, but I miscalculated. My foot slipped on the cold metal, and before I knew it, I was falling. The wind whipped around me, the roar of the rushing water beneath me growing louder. Panic surged through me as I flailed in the air, but then, Christian’s hand caught mine.
"Hold on!" he shouted, his grip firm, though I could see the strain on his face. I wasn’t light, and the force of the drop pulled hard on both of us. I watched as he dug his heels into the ground, his entire body trembling from the effort.
"Christian, Let..." I whispered.
" Shut up with that, Victoria!" He scorned.
He struggled, his breathing labored, but somehow, he managed to pull me up. I collapsed onto the ground, soft grass cushioning my fall.
He immediately wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight in a way that made me realize just how much he cared. "Please don’t ever do that again, Victoria. I’m here for you. You’re not alone. It’s us against the world," he murmured, his voice soft but resolute.
I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. I had been so wrapped up in my own pain that I’d forgotten how much Christian had been by my side, how much he truly cared. Tears welled up in my eyes, but they were different this time.
"I’m so sorry, Christian," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.
We stood together after a moment, and Christian grinned at me as he took my hand, pushing my bike along with him. His smile was contagious, and for the first time in a long while, I smiled back. The crushing weight I had carried for so long seemed to lift, if only just a little. The world still felt heavy, but with Christian beside me, maybe it didn’t have to be so unbearable.
**********
Christian.
Victoria and I spent an unforgettable evening, just the two of us, playing video games and laughing. It wasn’t forced; this time, her laughter was real, bubbling up from a place of genuine happiness. She glowed, radiant in a way I hadn’t seen in so long. Watching her like that made me feel like maybe I could save her—like I had a purpose beyond myself. I swore to never let her feel that kind of despair again. As long as I was around, she would never be alone.
That day changed everything. I decided right then and there that I’d keep tabs on her 24/7. I’d watch her closely, protect her, and make sure she always had someone by her side. I became her shadow, stopping by her house every morning so we could walk to school together, sharing lunch, and spending weekends at parks or catching movies. Slowly, she started to change. The layers of jackets she used to wear—like a shield—began to disappear, replaced by colorful clothes that reflected the light she was starting to let back into her life.
Her energy was infectious. Every day at school became more fun, more bearable, because she was there, smiling, laughing, being herself.
"I’ll see you in a bit," she said after we left the gym one day. Her confidence was growing, and it was a beautiful thing to witness.
I changed in the locker room, quickly as always, avoiding the stares of the more built and good-looking guys. It wasn’t a secret that I struggled with my weight. I was tall, but my size was always the first thing people saw—fat, clumsy, awkward. I couldn’t help but feel intimidated by them, like I didn’t belong.
As I hurried out of the locker room, I overheard some football players talking in low voices.
"She said we must do it. We gotta try today, bro. And fast. She paid us for it," one of them said, his tone serious. I didn’t pay much attention at first. It wasn’t my business, after all. But something about the way they said it gnawed at the back of my mind as I walked away.
************
Victoria.
I always made sure to shower after all the girls had left. It was easier that way—less embarrassing. My body was changing in ways that scared me, and in high school, everything felt amplified. I wrapped a towel around my waist after finishing, expecting the usual chatter and giggles of the locker room to return. But instead, I heard a man's voice.
Panic shot through me as more masculine voices joined in. My heart raced, and I scanned the room for a place to hide, but it was too late. Five football players surrounded me, their faces smug with entitlement. They were big—buff, like they belonged on the field, not here.
"Just as we hoped. Miss Boobas is here. Look at those t**s. They're massive," one of them sneered, his eyes roaming over me like I was something less than human. I tightened my grip on the towel, backing up against the cold wall, my breath coming in sharp, shallow bursts.
"Easy there, girl. We're just here for a little chat," said another one, this time a blond guy, his smirk curling at the edge of his lips. My back hit the wall, and I pressed myself against it, desperate to disappear.
One of them pulled out his phone, pointing it at me like this was some kind of sick game, recording everything while the others laughed. They took steps closer, suffocating me with their presence. One of them reached out, yanking the towel away, leaving me exposed. Completely naked.
I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to cover myself, trying to protect whatever dignity I had left, but they grabbed my wrists, pulling them away.
My mouth opened, but no sound came out. My scream, my plea, died before it even left my throat.
No! No! Nooo!
The world spun as they closed in on me.
- Writer
