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A Switchfoot-Inspired Story

All of the dialogue-- and the line "with his fist now at Max's feet,..."-- come from Switchfoot songs. The actual line for the above quote is "With my fist at your feet,...."

Thrown down hard against the outside bathroom wall, David heaved with anger and fatigue. "I dare you to move," Max bellowed fiercely. Sullen and determined, David picked himself up and, in one swift motion, thrust himself headlong at the well-known bully. Taken by surprise, Max threw up his arms, but then twisted his head and torso and returned with a right cross that caught David in flight. With his fist now at Max's feet, David began to tear in rage. He took a knee, then used his fist to lift himself and face David closely, brow furrowed and eyes outlined red with tears and anger.

"This is your life," said Max, tauntingly. "Do you love me enough to let me go?"

Resentfully, David turned; and with head lifted high, he trained his eyes on the crowd that had surrounded to watch, to cheer, to live vicariously through David and Max, putting themselves in mind in places they would not dare place themselves in life. Stopping for a moment, he turned back and said to the bully in front of them all, "We were meant to live for so much more," and then walked away.

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