You saved me Maddie

Good bye, good bye, good bye.

When we arrived at Athena's house it was quite late. It was dark outside and the crisp autumn air stung my skin. Athena walked first, leading me in through the front door. We walked down a set of stairs in to a living area with a couch, two armchairs, a fire place, a dining table and a kitchen. There was also big windows overlooking the garden. A teenage girl, about 16 years old, and a boy, around 10.
"Hi" the girl said and stood up. "I'm May"
"I'm Ellie" I said with a forced smile.
"Ellie this is Harry" Athena gestured to the boy still sitting down on the sofa.
He gave me a wave.
"Ellie let me show you to your room" May walked me over to a room.
I put my bag on my bed.
"Thank you" I told her.
May left me alone with my thoughts. I looked around. The room had a built in wardrobe, a desk and a bathroom. I brushed my teeth and went to bed, sliding in under the clean sheets.
I woke up the next morning, it was 08:30. I got up and got dressed, then I walked out to the living area. Athena was in the kitchen making breakfast. May and Harry sat at the table, scrolling on their phones. May heard me coming and looked up, her brown eyes meeting mine.
"Morning" she smiled.
"Morning" I answered with a smile.
"Sit" Athena guided me to the table as she placed a plate of bacon and eggs on the table.
I did as I was told. Athena placed a similar plate in front of me, May and Harry before taking a seat herself.
"So, Ellie" May started "Do you have Snapchat?"
I shook my head in confusion.
"What's that?"
May looked at me like I had two heads.
"Then I'll show you snap" she took a sip of water before continuing "Do you have insta or TikTok?"
I shook my head again.
"Girly you have missed some very important stuff" May said before taking a bite of her bacon.
"I don't believe that" Athena scoffed, mouth full.
May shook her head in a telling off way.
After breakfast May taught me all about social media and how "every person in the country has it". Somehow I didn't believe that.
Athena went out to run some errands and came back to me Harry and May playing a board game. When she came in to the living area, she had a smile on her face.
"Ellie" she said "Maddie is awake and she's okay"
I sat up straight.
"Really?"
Athena nodded. But before I could ask her more questions someone knocked on the door. Athena went to open it but yelled after me. My social worker was standing there.
"Get your stuff" she said "I'm taking you to a group home"
May came running.
"What?" Her voice full of confusion "no you can't take her"
"May it's okay" I said.
"No it's not" she butted in, shaking her head.
"May" Athena said sternly "we cannot do anything about it"
"I'll go and get my stuff" I said and ran of to get my bag"
"I'll go with you" May said and ran after me.
While in my room I picked up my hoodie from the desk chair and shoved it down in my duffel bag.
"You don't need to leave, we can find a better way" May said.
"May it's okay, really. I don't think it's that bad at all" I said, moving towards the door.
"No it's not okay, group homes are small orphanages" she hissed.
"I don't have a choice" I said.
"Yes you do" May grabbed my hand "we can figure something out"
I shook my head. It wasn't possible. When I came out to the front door the social worker was waiting for me.
"Before we go" I said "can I go visit Maddie?"
"I dont-" but I cut her off.
"To say goodbye" I pleaded.
"Fine, you'll have 5 minutes" she said.
I turned around to look at the Grants. With a wave I turned around and sat down in the back seat of the social workers car. They stood with their door open as we drove off, not daring to close it just yet.
We pulled up at a hospital and walked inside. While the social worker talked to a receptionist I looked around. Big windows in a hallway with white tiled floors. Then we were on our way to her ward. The elevator ride felt like it took forever. We didn't say anything, I just followed her, when all of a sudden she stopped.
"This is it" she said.
Through a window I could see a disheveled Maddie, lying in a hospital bed, reading a magazine. I took a deep breath, before walking inside. Maddie didn't notice me at first. My steps, almost silent against the hospital floor. When she noticed she looked up. Her face forming in to a grin from ear to ear.
"Hi" she smiled.
"Hi" I smiled back.
"What are you doing here?" Maddie shifted her head.
"I'm here to see how you're doing" I said, even though that wasn't entirely true.
Maddie smiled her soft smile.
"I'm doing fine" she said.
I heard someone cough outside Maddies hospital room. Maddie looked at me.
"Why are you really here?" She asked.
"I'm here to say goodbye" my stomach dropped at the last word.
Goodbye. Maddies face dropped.
"What do you mean?" Her voice suddenly filled with worry.
I slapped my hands against my thighs.
"It's my last day in your custody" my voice shook.
Maddie gave me another smile. A sad one. She opened her arms.
"Come here" she said.
I walked over and fell in to her embrace.
"Thank you for everything" I whispered in her ear before letting go.
She reached up and touched my cheek.
"Thank you my darling" a single tear rolling down her cheek.
"Estelle"
That was my que. I turned around and walked out of her hospital room.
I was off on new adventures, alone once again.