We're Not Related Anymore...

This Is The Last Time I'm Asking You This

Maddie: Three Years Ago

I've been packed for three hours. I've done nothing since but stare at my bedroom wall and try not to go on my phone. But it's hard and I find myself going back to it again. I want to see if the video has been taken down yet but all I see is the comments everyone's left on the original post. The most terrifying part about the whole thing is that news of my humiliation has spread far and wide. 

InstagramUser29: Holy Shit! Is that Madeline Culkin???? I went to elementary school with her. Hot shit. 

LindaThe WiseOne: What a disgrace! Get this taken down immediately.

MichaelCorgan1!: Love it when stuck-up bitches get outed. You were too good for me and now no guy will ever want u. Soiled goods. 

ReevesTheMason: Nice titsssss

The comments go on and on until I almost feel detached from them. Some are so vile and so mean that I almost can't reconcile the words and the people saying them. How is it that some of these people writing things about me have seen me around, smiled, and chatted to me but now I'm reduced to this? I should click out and delete the app but I can't just yet. 

BelindaDayTheMayBaby: I heard a rumor that the boy in the vid is Jacob Isaacs? Is this true, because the bitch must get to the back of the line!!!!

UnknownSunshine: What a whore! Can't believe I looked up to her. I hope she chokes on a dick.

Ok. That's enough for tonight. 

The rest of the house has gone quiet. I think my dad and Lilian stayed up slightly longer to make sure Jacob and I wouldn't sneak out. But even though they've now fallen asleep, I can still remember the angry words I heard coming from their bedroom. 

"How could you have let this happen?"

"This is neither of our fault. The kids-"

"I told you she was a bad influence on him. Jacob was perfectly fine before your daughter came in and wrecked his life. He's gotten into fights and now this video? Keegan, his entire future-"

"Why do you assume it's Maddie who started all this? We don't know how long this has been going on but your son is no saint."

"Yeah, well before we were married, one of our kids was on the honor roll and the other was getting called into the principal's office."

I situate my head between my knees and try to breathe. It was weird hearing my father defend me. I reach up and rub my cheek. It's not sore. It's not even red. He slapped me but it seems so unreal I'm wondering if I imagined it. 

I hear a soft rap on my door and pray it's Jacob and not Josh. My twin came by earlier, just as he promised. But he provided no comfort. If anything, he gave me such a look that I felt ten times dirtier than I already had. This was not a day where I needed an 'I-Told-You-So'.

Mary and Shelley have been holed up in their room for hours. I know it's not them at my door. They wouldn't risk their mother's wrath right now, no matter what. 

"Maddie," I hear him whisper through the door. "Open up, please."

I crawl over to the door and move the key in the lock. Jacob opens the door a moment later and looks down at me on the floor. 

"Are you packed?" I ask, my voice as quiet as the rest of the house. He doesn't say anything and I look up at him to see his expression. It's conflicted and I already know what's going to happen. 

"Let's just wait a bit. Sleep on this and then we'll talk it over in the morning."

"Did you even pack a bag?" I ask. "Or were you always going to try and talk me out of leaving?"