Chase Stokes and his girlfriend, Madelyn Cline are in Charleston filming season two of Outer Banks. What happens when something happens to his younger sister, Ellie.
Madelyns pov It was the morning after the party and we were all home. Last night was definitely something. I still had to talk to Ellie about everything because it was quite rushed last night.
Since Chase had the other kids occupied in the backyard practicing soccer before Addie's game, I knew I could have time to talk to Ellie. I knock on her bedroom door and enter when I hear her reply.
"Good Morning beautiful, how are you feeling?" I ask her. She was wearing a big hoodie and her cheeks were all flustered, meaning she was boiling hot. "I'm good" she replies but all it takes it for her to make eye contact with me before she says, "Who am I kidding? I'm doing awful Mom" which makes me heart break. I expected it but hearing your own daughter say those exact words is awful.
"Talk to me" I tell her and sit next to her in her bed. "I feel guilty for hurting myself. I just couldn't help it and once I started it was like I was trapped and now I can't stop" she explains. I know all too familiar the feeling. "I feel like such a failure. Why can't I be like you, Mom?" She asks. "Can I tell you something that not many people know about me?" I ask her and she nods, confused.
"I started cutting when I was 17. It lasted a year. Nobody knew because I hid it so well, except my Mom. I felt the same way as you, like a failure and like I deserved to be in pain. I understand how you feel and I know it feels like you're never going to be happy or be 'normal' but listen to me Els, you're amazing, beautiful and you're strong as hell. You're going to get through this. I'm not going to sit here and lie to you, it's going to be hard. But I believe in you and I know you'll get there" I tell her, meaning each word I said.
She looked at me shocked, "You self harmed?" She asks surprised and I nod. "But you seem so happy and you're so pretty" she tells me. "I am happy now, I wasn't when I was your age though but I got better. Just like you're going to" I tell her. "Do you... erm... do you have scars?" She asks me nervously. "Don't be scared to ask me anything, that's what I'm here for" I say. "But yes I do, I can show you if you want?" I ask.
"Only if you're comfortable" she says and I nod. I showed her the faint scars on my thigh, they were barely showing. "Scars make you who you are. They're nothing to be ashamed of" I tell her, sternly so she knows I mean it. "You're so strong, Mom" she says, laying her head on my shoulder. "Just like you are" I add.
"Therapy helped me an awful lot. If you're up to it, I think we should get you started with it" I suggested. "I think it would help me" Ellie says and agrees to going to a therapist.
After we just talked and cuddled for another hour, we had a very excited Addie come to get us to leave for her football game. Before we join them, I say to Ellie, "I'm proud of you for coming today. I know you don't feel like it but you're doing it and I'm so proud of you for it"
We all watched Addie play soccer. Out of all of our children, she was the only one who wasn't surf crazy. Instead she was soccer crazy. She was amazing at soccer though. We don't know how she learnt all the skills but as soon as she picked up a soccer ball, she could do so many tricks that even Chase couldn't do!
Watching her play brought me so much joy. Something else that brought me joy was seeing Ellie smile whilst watching her little sister do what she loves. I know it took a lot for Ellie to come today but I'm glad she's here. Although she hasn't let go of my hand the whole time. Even though she's 18, she's still my little baby. And if that means holding her hand the whole time to ease her anxiety, I'm more than happy to do so.
"Woahh go Addie" Olivia cheers on as Addie scores her third goal of the game. "I did it Daddy, I scored again" she says running up to Chase who was cheering. "Damn right you did, that's my girl. Get back out there and score more" Chase says and Addie runs off back onto the field to join her team.
When the alarm signals the game finally ended, everyone cheers because Addie's team won and all the goals were scored by our sweet Addie. As soon as she can, Addie runs over to us and dives into Ellie's arms. "I kept the promise El El" Addie says, hugging her older sister. Addie always called Ellie - El El. We don't know where it came from but it always stuck. She was Els to us but to Addie she was El El. "I knew you would, you're the best soccer player I know" Ellie says, still holding Addie in her arms.
I take a quick photo and it brings me so much joy knowing Ellie is smiling. I know her well enough to know this smile isn't false, like the rest of them this month. "Can I post it on Instagram?" I ask Ellie who nods so I begin to.
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@madelynstokes : this lil one scored 3 goals in soccer but I think it was all because she had promised her sister she would win for her 🥺⚽️🥅 ↳ 1,005 comments @rudeth : go Addie!! @zoe.hall : yeahhhh addie ⚽️⚽️⚽️ @madisonlinney : addies hair 🥺🥺 @pamcline : my girls ❤️ @jonathandaviss : woohoo what a star ⭐️ @jonasjpate : the only stokes not addicted to surfing 😂
