𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑒

Chapter 23 ~ Baby

Maddox

I sent Willow to take a shower and get comfortable. I'm cooking her dinner right now, shrimp pasta. It's always been a comfort food of mine when I had asthma attacks. Since they rarely come anymore, it's now just a memory and I can use this recipe to help others.

And that's exactly what I'm doing. Willow is letting me take care of her and I will not let her down. I know it can take a while for an asthma attack to come, but I will be here when she feels it. I know the pain of not having anyone with me throughout mine, so I will gladly change that.

I may have gone overboard with the food, but I'm a guy, so I assumed that Willow would eat as much as I would in a week. Not until after I paid did I realize that Willow is picky and doesn't eat a whole lot.

One thing I remember her telling me was that she loved pasta, and raman so I made sure to stack up on that.

I hear footsteps coming from the bathroom as I flip the shrimp in butter and seasoning. I look at her state and see she got into comfy clothes and she is all washed up. She goes and sits on the couch and wraps herself up in a blanket and turns on the tv.

I pour the shrimp into the pasta and stir it around. I made enough for her to have leftovers tomorrow just in case she doesn't feel like cooking. I grab a bowl and a fork for her and place a decent amount into the bowl. I grab her juice and head over to the couch.

She looks at me and sits up against the couch. "Thanks." She mutters as I hand her the bowl. I bring her coffee table closer so that she can have something to play her hot bowl on. I sit on the single seat couch next to her and watch as she puts the show back on.

I take off my hoodie because it's so freaking hot in here that I might die. I look over to Willow to make sure she is eating but I catch her looking at me. "Why aren't you eating?"

"I'm not hungry, I was going to eat later."

"But it's almost eleven, and I know for a fact you made a ton, go get yourself a bowl." She insists. I didn't even realize how late it was because I didn't mind being here at all.

"Willo-"

"Maddox, I'm telling you, as the person who you are taking care of, to get yourself a bowl and eat it." She then gets up when she sees I'm not moving, and walks to the kitchen getting me a bowl.

She comes back over and hands me the bowl. I thank her, because I feel like if I were to say anything else, I would be dead.

We sit in dead silence for the remainder of the show. I look at my phone and see it's almost gone and we had finished dinner a long time ago.

Willow is wide awake and picking at her nails.

"I should probably go now." I say as I get up, taking our dishes to the sink and washing them, placing them in the dishwasher.

Once I'm done, I look at Willow who is staring black at the tv that is not playing. "Willow?" No response.

I go over to the couch and take a seat next to her. "What's wrong?" I don't want to get so close she feels uncomfortable so I make sure to put some space between us.

"Nothing, just, knowing that I won't be able to sleep tonight because I'm worried I will have an attack in my sleep and die in my sleep." She doesn't look up nor does her voice change.

She is generally scared that she is going to have an attack in her sleep and die. I know her pain, because I was the same when I moved out to live on my own when I turned 16. I had moved out of Aunt Maren's house and went to live with some of my friends.

She wasn't happy about it but she could say no to me. I had an asthma attack the first night and I never went back to sleep for a couple days.

"I know how you feel, but you have to sleep, you know you will feel better if you do." I take the chance to put my hand on her back and rub in circles.

"I hate living alone." She sobs as she plants her face in her hands. "If I died, no one would find me until my mother sends someone down here to check on me when I'm not returning her calls."

"Willow, what's this right here?"

"I-"

"No, Willow, what is it? You didn't come to school for one day, one, and I came over here as fast as I could to check up on you because I was worried!" I yell at her but not as loud. What the heck did she mean when she said no one would find her?

"And you know I would be here in a heartbeat anytime you need me."

Her sobs grow and I have to remember that I need to calm her so that she doesn't forget how to breathe.

"I'm sorry." She cries. "For what Willow?"

"For making myself such a burden to you! I mean you made me food, you made me shower, you helped me all day. I can't ask for anymore."

"Willow, listen to me." She turns her head to me. "You are far from a burden, I'm here, because I care about you, you're the only real friend I have even though I'm not yours! I'm by your side all the time because you're my friend."

Her sobs die down as she wipes her tears. "And Willow, I will stay here, and sleep on his uncomfortable couch if it makes you feel safer, heck if you don't like being around me, I will go across the world just so you can feel safe!"

"I feel safe with you and only you now shut up!" Her voice booms and it puts me into a shock. She is no longer sobbing. Her face was full of red anger. I can hurt her throat because she is rubbing it.

"Please, stay, I can't get through this." Her eyes bore into mine and pleaded. I bring her to me and kiss her head. "I'm here baby, I'm not going anywhere. You can sleep as long as you like. Just know, I'm going to be here."

And that was a promise I hope to hold for the rest of my life.

A/N 

JESUS LOVES YOU 

HAVE A BLESSED DAY

AND THIS STORY IS PRETTY CLOSE TO AN END, I WOULD SAY AROUND 7 MORE CHAPTERS, MAYBE LESS!