You saved me Maddie

The aftermath.

(If you read the last chapter before 15th of January I suggest you go back and read it as I added another paragraph x)

The front door creaked when Maddie swung it open and the familiar home scent hit me when I stepped inside. My doctor had described melatonin to help me sleep because I hadn't slept since the tsunami. It was late and it was dark outside. I got ready for bed and took one pill. My sheets crackled when I laid down in bed. Sleep didn't take me that night either, defeated I walked over to Maddies room and knocked on the white bedroom door.
"Yes" I heard her say through the door and I swung it open.
"Do you think I can take another one?" I asked her.
Maddie gave me her sad smile and shook her head.
"Sorry hun" she itched the back of her head. "Can't sleep?"
I shook my head, my red hair in two long braids down my back. Maddie moved aside a bit.
"Come sit" she patted the mattress with her left hand.
I did as she told me and when I sat down she wrapped her arm around me.
"You know" she said "you're safe here"
I knew that but that wasn't the issue, it was all the dead people from the tsunami. How they floated around in the water, waiting to be claimed by someone, waiting to be given their name back to themselves.
"I know" I exhaled sharply "but I just see them every time I close my eyes"
I felt Maddie sigh.
"I'm so sorry that you went through that baby" she stroked my hair.
"I'm still lucky cuz I'm here" I whispered.
"But you still went through it" she told me.
We talked a while before I fell asleep and when I woke up Maddie was still beside me, snoring loudly. I tried to be as quiet as I could as snuck out of her room, and walked into my own. As I looked at my bed and room I reflected over my life. I had a mother figure that loved me, a stable home and at least one friend. Just a few months ago that felt impossible, that my life with my dad was everything it could be. A miserable life that was now gone.
After breakfast Maddie rushed out of the apartment, dressed in a black blazer and a white blouse. I guessed she was going to some kind of ceremony and didn't think that much of it. School was closed because of the tsunami which didn't really hurt me that much because I didn't have any friends there. Therefor I spent my days playing video games and learning how to cook and after a few days Maddie called me the new Gordon Ramsay, whatever that meant.
Maddie came bursting through the front door around 5 that afternoon, her hair all ruffled from the wind.
"Is everything okay?" I asked her.
"A social worker is coming here in about 15 minutes" she said.
My heart sank.
"What?"
My world slowed, was she getting rid of me?
"Ellie" Maddie clapped her hands which brought me back to reality. "You're not going anywhere they just wanna check up on you."
Oh that made sense. My heart settled down and the world sped up again.
"You won't get rid of me that easy" Maddie ruffled my hair and chuckled.
"I hope so" I answered her.
Maddie went and changed to something a bit more comfortable and then we just sat down on the couch and talked as we ate an apple each. When the doorbell rang Maddie flew up and almost ran to the door. She opened the door and Danielle the social worker walked inside.
"Hi" Danielle smiled.
She was wearing a blue blazer with a white shirt under it paired with black dress pants.
"Hi" Maddie smiled, trying to look as relaxed as possible which had almost the opposite effect.
"I'm just here for a quick check" she said reassuringly to Maddie.
Danielle turned to me and said with a soft smile:
"I have some questions for you if that's okay?"
"Yeah sure" I nodded.
Danielle walked over and sat down on the couch.
"So Estelle" she started "how do you like living here?"
"I love it" I answered.
Danielle smiled, revealing a dimple in her left chin.
"So" she continued, checking a box on her clipboard. "Are you going to school?
"Yes"
"Great" She checked another box "Are comfortable living with Maddie?"
"Yes definitely" I said, my eyes walking over to Maddie who was smiling.
"Amazing" Danielle clipped her pencil to her clipboard and stood up. "Estelle would you mind showing where you sleep?"
"Absolutely" I jumped up "let's go"
Danielle walked after me as I strutted away to my room and showed her inside. I could se that Danielle was pleased which calmed my anxiety a bit.
"Is it okay if I talk to Maddie alone for a few minutes?" Her question soft and calm.
"Yeah sure" I sat down by my desk "you can close the door after you so if you need to"
Danielle did that and I couldn't hear what they were talking about but when she had left Maddie seemed the same, not sad or anything different. She called me out to eat dinner and after that she told me she was tired and went to bed. I got ready for bed, washed my face, brushed my teeth and hair and then I laid down in bed. After a while of staring at the ceiling I decided to read a book to try and calm down. I ended up finishing that book and starting another one. With a sigh I picked up my phone to check the time, 02:36. I groaned and slammed my pillow into the wall in frustration before I realised that my room was next to Maddies room and she would probably hear if I threw something against the wall. My duvet made a soft cracking sound as I pulled it over my head. Then a soft knocking sound came from my door.
"Yes" I said and Maddie let the door swing open.
"Can't sleep?" She asked.
I shook my head.
"I feel like I'm going insane" I said.
I really did, I barely slept anymore and when I did the only thing I could think about was my dad and all those dead people from the tsunami. Maddie gave me her comforting smile as she walked over to me and sat down on the bed, putting her left hand on my duvet covered leg.
"What if I bonked you on the head with a rubber club so you fall asleep faster?" She mimicked hitting me on the head with a laugh.
I laughed and sniffed.
"Hey listen" Maddie took my hand. "Maybe it's time to get you a therapist?"
I chewed on my bottom lip, thinking about what she said.
"Sounds good" I said, tears stinging my eyes.
Maddie stroked my cheek with the back of her hand.