Absolution

12- Cuba

Callie POV

it had been two weeks since that party. all i've been doing is distracting myself by spending every minute with ivy.

i felt bad, but she didn't seem to mind me practicing living with her. her mum didn't either, she seemed thrilled

i learnt a lot about ivys family. she actually has 3 siblings, but they all live in cuba with their dad.

when their parents split, on good terms, ivy and her mum decided they wanted to do something different, whilst her other siblings stayed in cuba.

they all still see eachother fairly regularly, holidays n such.

i'd always wanted a sibling, but i would never get one now. dad seemed content with his miserable life, and to be honest, he was probably counting down the days to where i turn 18 so i wouldn't be his problem anymore

my and ivy were laying on her bed, mindlessly watching reality tv when i got a call

"the fuck?" i asked, reaching for the remote. "it's brady"

"answer it" ivy reassured, as i obliged, putting the phone on speaker

brady apologised, which was actually really nice to hear. i didn't forgive him, but it was a nice sentiment.

he started rambling again when me and ivy heard loud crying from downstairs, so i muted the phone, turning brady down as we both rushed downstairs.

ivys mum was sobbing, on the phone to someone. she was speaking spanish so i didn't know what was going on, but when i saw ivy's eyes well up in tears, i immediately hung up on brady.

"what's going on?" i asked worriedly

"mi hijo" her mum cried out, as from my limited knowledge of spanish, i realised something had happened to her son, ivys brother

ivy went over to her mum, hugging her tightly as they cried together. i stood, piecing together what had happened

"i'm so sorry" i said shakily.

ivy and her mum spoke in spanish for a second, as ivy went back upstairs. i followed her

"my brothers dead" ivy said sharply, grabbing a bag from her cupboard.

"i'm so fucking sorry ivy" i said weakly, as she turned to me.

and just broke

from the last two weeks, she's been my rock. comforting me every day, helping me. now she needed the same, as she crumbled in my arms.

i held her, trying to comfort her.

"we're going to cuba, my dad already booked our tickets, we have to leave in about 20 minutes" she looked at me worriedly. "are you going to be okay?"

her brother just died, and she worried about me?

"ivy, i'm fine. you need to focus on yourself. go see your family" i reassured her.

"i feel bad leaving you" she admitted. "i didn't want you to be alone, you're going through a lot and i wanted to be here"

this girl was the most selfless person i think id ever met, and ever will meet

"no ivy. you need to go, don't worry about me. it's nothing compared to what you're feeling. don't feel bad." i hugged her, hoping to make her feel better

in all honestly, i was worried about her leaving. i didn't have anyone else. but this wasn't about me.

"okay" she sniffed. "i'll call you?"