Survive

Chapter Twenty Four

Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

October 17, 2022.

Madison Stone's Point Of View.

"What?" I ask really not believing what is happening here.

"Your father and I are separating," my mother says as if she had done the right thing, but not what she wanted.

"How so?" I ask and by the look on her face I understand everything.

"Anthony, can I stay at your house while he's not out of here?" She asks ignoring my question.

"Yes. You can Mrs. Stone," Anthony replies as he places the bags he is carrying on the floor.

My mother starts walking toward the door that leads to the outside area, making me deny it.

"Mom." I call out to her and she turns around.

"We will talk later Madison," she says seriously and goes on her way, leaving only Anthony and me here.

I sit on the couch and try to process what is happening and what will happen from now on.

I know I shouldn't be feeling this way, but I am sad about what is happening, I feel that some of it is my fault, because the fights started because of me.

I know that my mother loves him, so if she has decided to separate from him and wants to stay at Anthony's house until my father leaves, it is because something very serious has happened.

And with something very serious, it comes to my mind that unfortunately the detective must have discovered something.

I hear a noise coming from upstairs, so I look up, thus seeing my father coming down the stairs with Angelina, he carrying another suitcase and Angelina a handbag.

"Anthony help me get these suitcases to my car," he looks at me, but says nothing, showing how insignificant I am to him.

"The bags won't just fit in your car Mr. Stone," Anthony says. "I think you sir need another car."

"You can take the mine, Anthony," I offer and he smiles at me ruefully.

"That's it. Take hers and let's go," and my dear rude father says so, grabbing another suitcase and leaving the house with them.

Angelina leaves the small bag she was holding on top of another, leaving the room right away. Anthony approaches me and squats down to be the same size as me, making me face him.

"Are you all right my little one?" And I don't even know what to answer.

I know that if they are separating it is because they can no longer be together and at the same time that I understand this, I am also sad, wishing that everything could have been different.

"I really don't know how I'm feeling.."

"I understand.. but know that you will get through this. You will survive. Everything is going to be okay." He stands up and gives me a kiss on the top of my head. "You are strong."

"Thank you.."

My father enters the house again and Anthony moves away from me to help him get the bags.

After a few minutes all the bags are put in the trunk of the cars.

"Where are you going?" I stop in front of his car and he looks at me quickly as he closes the trunk.

"I don't know yet," he says.

"But when you know.. will you tell me?" I ask and he looks at me as if he is really thinking about the answer.

"I need to go. We'll talk later," he passes by me and turns the car around so he can get into it.

The fact that he ignores my question is already an answer.

"Is that a goodbye, right?" I ask and he looks at me.

"I don't know."

"Sorry," I say as he is about to get into the car, causing him to give up and look at me confused.

"Sorry for what?"

"For messing up your plans with my mother. For not being whatever you wanted me to be.. I swear I tried everything I could to make you like and proud of me the least bit.."

And I feel tears streaming down my face as I stare at the man a short distance away from me and Anthony looks at me probably with pity.

"No need to apologize.." he just says that and gets in the car, so I approach and put my head on the window, which is open.

"I know you never loved me, but if this is goodbye, I want you to know that I love you and I really wish everything had been different.." and I don't wait for him to answer, because I know he's not going to say anything, so I just walk away from the car and watch him start it.

I know it may have seemed like I humiliated myself for someone who doesn't deserve my love, but he is my father and if this is really goodbye, I want at least my conscience to be clear that until the last moment I tried.

I look over and see Anthony getting into the car as well, but before he does it, he turns and looks at me.

"I love you," he speaks with his lips and I just give him a small smile to try to disguise my sadness, turning away and walking into the house again soon after.

"Are they gone?" My mother asks as she sits down on the couch and I nod my head in agreement as I dry my tears.

I sit next to her on the sofa and we stare at each other for a while without saying anything, until she starts to cry, causing me to hug her and caress her back.

"I was right all along." She states and I just hug her tighter, as if somehow this will make the pain she is feeling lessen.

"Did he really do what you thought he was doing?" I ask trying to be as delicate as possible.

"Yes.. the detective found out that he was cheating on me with a woman for whom he championed a cause." And I feel disgusted hearing that phrase.

"Do you have any pictures of her or anything like that?"

"He showed them to me, but I already tore them up and burned them. I don't want anything from those two in my house," she speaks angrily, and I agree.

"I'm sorry, mom. You really didn't deserve to go through that," I say and she stares at me.

"And least of all you, dear. I'm sorry for all the times he let you down and hurt you," she speaks disappointedly and I just agree with my head as I refrain from crying again so as not to make her sadder.

"No need to apologize. Just... stay here with me and let me take care of you," I get her to lie on my lap and start stroking her hair, intending to calm her down.

As I stroke her hair, I close my eyes and try to relax my mind, but I feel like that's impossible right now.