redefine | calum hood

five

Five

Maddie

I woke up pretty drowsy, trying to adjust my eyes to the light. "Hey sweet girl," I looked over and saw Ashton sitting in a visitors chair. "How are you feeling?"

"My throat hurts," I answered.

"Here, have some water," he handed me the glass on the nightstand. I thanked him and took a sip. The door opened and the same doctor from earlier entered with a smile.

"You're awake," he smiled. "Feeling better?"

"My throat is dry,"

"We had to get a lot of oxygen into your lungs, so that makes sense," he explained and I nodded. "We did a scan and found a large amount of smoke irritation as well. We also discovered you have asthma, I'm assuming from the amount of smoke inhaled," I felt my stomach churn. I had asthma because of my brothers, because they wouldn't quit smoking. "Maddie, were people smoking in your home?"

"My brothers and their two friends," I mumbled.

"You weren't?" he questioned and I shook my head.

"I don't want to smoke,"

"Good," he said as he sat at the edge of my bed. "How long have they smoked?"

"All their life, but normally outside. This year they started to smoke inside,"

"That's what triggered your asthma," he explained and I nodded. I couldn't change it, guess I just had to accept it.

"Will it get worse?"

"If they keep smoking around you, yes," he answered honestly. "And right now your house is full of smoke, it's going to upset your lungs and you'll be right back here," he said and I sighed.

"Mad, do you remember Luke?" Ashton asked and I nodded. "We're going to call him down and you're going to talk to him again," he said and I nodded. I knew they were concerned about the same stuff as before. Ashton paged Luke, who quickly came in.

"Hi Maddie, feeling better?" he asked and I nodded. Calum and Ashton got up and left, leaving me and Luke there.

"My answers haven't changed," I told him.

"How about I ask new questions then?" he suggested and I nodded. "How do you feel about your brothers smoking?"

"Not good, cause it made me have asthma," I mumbled.

"How long have you lived with your brothers?"

"Since I was six,"

"What are their jobs?" Luke questioned, making me stop for a moment. I really didn't know how to answer that. How was I supposed to say they were drugs dealers?

"They work with some friends with yard work," I muttered.

"As of right now, do you feel safe at home?" he asked and I shook my head. "How come?'

"Cause there's a lot of smoke, and it's just going to hurt my chest again," I explained. "But I don't have anywhere else to go. I love them, but I don't want to be around smoke,"

"That's ok, tonight you're staying overnight," he explained and I nodded. "We're going to have someone part of CPS come and check the house, making sure there is no indoor smoke," I nodded and leaned back on the bed. "How about you get some rest?" he suggested and I nodded. Luke got up and left, letting me relax for a moment until I was fast asleep.