Chapter Text
Life is made up of a Before and an After. Or at least that's how it is in stories.
In reality, things are not that simple. There's not just one Before, one After, one single defining moment when the stone is thrown into the water and after that it's nothing but ripples. Instead, there are many moments, little bends in the road, sharp twists and even sharper turns. Although numerous, these moments of change are not, of course, all equal in size.
Like everyone else, Chip had small Befores and Afters. Before he lost a tooth at age seven with his legs hanging in the air high up in the Ferris wheel. After he punched Ryan in the stomach for all the times he didn't.
There were bigger ones. After he got his first job selling soft ice cream at the mall. Before he decided to go to college. After he kissed Jake.
Then there were the really big ones, those deserving the capital letters. After Mom died. Before he told his father. After he met Steve.
Then there were the Befores and Afters that split his life into pieces. Before the world ended. After Steve died. Before the angel.