My Therapy

Chapter 5

December 12th, 2022

Ella's POV

Madison's parents were going to be out for a while, so we just ordered food right at her house. Her sister Charlotte went to go pick it up, and I hoped that meant Hannah, Madison's niece and Charlotte's daughter, would come with her to lighten the mood.

We were all on the couch, watching the TV in the dark, all huddled together under a bunch of blankets with the lights off because that was just how we were all feeling.

Madison was delicate and constantly shaking, it was just not at all what I was used to. I think everyone else would agree too.

"I think I'm going to go lay down," She said.

"Isn't that what you're doing right now?" Stanway asked.

"In my room, I mean,"

"Alright. Well, you do that. We'll be here," Alessia said.

"Thanks," she said as she stood up and stretched.

"Let me know if you need anything. Do you want to take water?" I asked.

"I'm fine. Just let me know when the food's here," She said walking upstairs, and we all stayed silent until we heard her door shut.

"Ella, do you know why Charlotte wasn't at the hearing today?" Georgia asked.

"I wish I could tell you,"

"Yeah. That was weird. I know Madi and Charlotte are close," Lucy said.

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Alessia's POV

"Madison loves her. And I know she's a good aunt to Hannah," Georgia Stanway said.

Everyone started talking about it, and coming up with ideas as to why she wasn't there.

"Maybe she had work," Lucy suggested.

"Maybe Hannah was sick," Georgia said.

"Well..." I said, making everyone quiet.

"Well, what?" Ella asked.

"Well, I might know why,"

That night in the hot tub, Madison told me a lot more than Ella knows. Which is pretty weird, considering they are somewhat of a 'thing' and she's Madison's comfort person.

That night, Madison told me all about her family. All about the struggle of her sisters, and how hard it was to grow up with them.

It was actually pretty sad because Madison loves both of them so much.

Madison's now a professional athlete and Charlotte's a nurse, which I would be very proud of if I were a parent. But Leonor ended up an addict.

How that happened neither Charlotte, Madi nor their parents know. But I think it could come from the fact that she's the middle child and always overshadowed by her sisters, one being very very smart and the other being an extremely good athlete. But Madison says that she was just the "Best person ever."

But I know Charlotte and Leonor didn't get along, and Madison overheard so many fights that she wishes she never did. And it hurt her because she loved them both so much.

When I asked about them now, all she said about Leonor was...

"Right after school ... shit happened. She went downhill, my parents couldn't handle it, and she left one day and I didn't see her again. My parents told me everything, but it really sucked, Alessia. I lost my best friend that day. She was the one I turned to for everything. And then she was gone. So that's why I started just bottling everything up."

Hearing that broke my heart, but I didn't ask any further questions. She told me I was the first person she told this to outside of her family. She didn't even tell Georgia, and at that point, she still didn't like Ella that much.

So here I am, sitting here with her secret, and a bunch of nosy soccer players staring at me.

So I came up with a lie quickly, and they all kind of dismissed it which was good.

The front door opened, and Ella jumped up.

"Charlotte!" She yelled running to the front door to help with the bags of food, which Lucy took from her when she made it to the kitchen.

She started taking things out of the bags as Ella gave Charlotte a big hug. I felt a pit in the bottom of my stomach as the hug lasted longer than a typical one. There was a sad vibe around it. And it was even sadder when I could hear Ella sniffle and the way her eyes were filling with tears when she pulled away.

"Where's Madi?" She asked Ella as she sat down.

"She went to go lay down," Daly said.

Georgia Stanway sat down next to Ella and put her arm around her while whispering something into her ear. Then she wiped a few tears off Ella's face. That mixed with them from yesterday just showed how weird friendships can be.

"Awww," Daly and I both said at the same time receiving a death glare from Georgia.

"I'm gonna go check on Madison and tell her the food's here," I said.

"Sounds good, Less," Charlotte said, helping Lucy dish up the food.

Her door was cracked open enough for me to see her sitting on her bed writing.

"Hi Madi," I said after knocking.

"Hi Less," She said, looking up at me very obviously crying.

"Can I come in?"

"Yeah," She put her stuff down next to her, and I sat at the end of her bed.

"Everything okay?"

"Are you serious?"

"Sorry. The food's here," I said taking a deep breath.

"Okay. I'll come down in a couple of minutes once I finish this,"

"Can I ask what it is?"

"Letter,"

"Ahhhh,"

"To Leonor,"

"Oh,"

"I'm just dumping everything here. My apologies, my forgiveness, my anger, my sadness, everything I want to tell her about how being a football player is going. And about how I finally met that person who makes me happy like no other. How I have the damn friends in the world, and how if she got to know you, she would love you guys as much as I do. Do you wanna read?" She said.

"Sure," I said as she handed me the letter.

Most of it was as sad as you would expect, but here's the best part.

"I found that person who makes me as happy as I possibly can be. And you'll never ever expect it. It is my ex-enemy. The one I spent so many hours shitting about. I got called up to the Lionesses and ended up falling for Ella Toone. It's just as shocking to you as it is to me, but the girl isn't anything I described years ago except she's still the best soccer player I've ever seen. I love her. She's perfect. And as for the rest of my friends that were at the hearing, they are the sweetest, kindest, funniest, most loyal and selfless people you will ever meet. Georgia Stanway lights up every room she enters. She never fails to make everyone laugh, and while she can be tough, she's one of the best people you'll ever meet. Alessia Russo is someone you just look at and you can trust. I told her so much about me that only you know. And she's one of the 2 more logical of my friends, which I really need sometimes in this group. But she cares so deeply about everyone like Georgia, and her smile is contagious. Lucy Bronze is just funny. She lacks a lot of common sense, but her people skills are excellent. She can read anyone like they're an open book. And Rachel Daly is soft-spoken and kind. She's the other logical friend. and she's for sure the most mature. She's caring and is a good person to look up to, even though she isn't much older than me. Rachel and Ella sometimes don't get along well, but one day they will. I know it,"

I looked up at her and just gave her a hug for the nice things she said about me and for everything she said earlier in the letter that was sad. And I'm sure she's sick of hugs but I still think she needs this one.

"Let's go eat," Madison said.

"Good. I'm starving,"