Diary of a Daughter (Based off of "Moments")

Fifteen: The secret

WARNING: This chapter might trigger some readers! Read at your own cost!

The next day, Ava, Kelly and I were running around on the playground. We were climbing up the ladder, going across the bridge and sliding down the pole. We decided to take a small break and sit on the benches. As we began walking over there, we paused as we noticed Maddie sitting there, staring at us.

"She's at our spot again..." Ava said.
"Why does she keep staring at us?" Kelly asked.
"I think it might be because of me." I responded.
"You didn't do anything..." Kelly said.
"I took you guys away from her." I said.
"We wanted to leave her." Ava responded.

I looked at the two of them.

"Stay here..." I said. "I'm gonna try and go to talk to her."

The girls just stood there and nodded.

I then turned around and walked over to the benches where Maddie was. As soon as I was close to Maddie, she immediately turned her head.

As I sat down next to her, I looked at her.

"Maddie, what's wrong?" I asked.

She didn't respond. Instead, she ran away from me. I watched as she ran over and hid behind the tire area.

I never thought she would run away from me...

But why??
---

4/3/20

Dear Diary,

I really want to talk to Maddie again. But she keeps running away from me. I never thought that would happen. I was usually the one to run away from her. Have I somehow become the monster?? I hope I can talk to her soon!

Em

---
Later on that night during dinner, I hardly ate. My Dads seemed to be concerned.

"What's wrong?" Daddy M asked.
"It's Maddie..." I said. "I wanted to go and talk to her and ask why she kept staring at us, but she keeps running away."
"You shouldn't let that bother you, Em." Daddy S explained. "It's better that you stay away from her in case something happens again."
"I highly doubt it..." I responded. "She keeps running away from me. Before, I always ran away from her."
"Maybe her parents want her to stay away from you." Daddy M explained.
"Her stay away from me?" I asked.
"Maybe because they finally came to their senses and told her to stop bullying you." Daddy M continued.
"She hasn't bullied me since Ava and Kelly became friends with me again." I said.

There was silence for a moment, then Daddy S spoke.

"Maybe something happened to her..." Daddy S said quietly. "That she doesn't want you to see or know..."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Maybe somebody else is now bullying her..." Daddy S suggested.
"I haven't seen anybody bully her..." I said.
"Maybe it's something you can't witness..." Daddy M said, slurring in his words. "Maybe... It happens when you're in class or something."
"Sweetie, you shouldn't worry about it." Daddy S butted in. "If you see something, then you should tell somebody. If not, then just let it go."

I only nodded.

I still didn't eat dinner that night. And while I was asleep in my bed, I couldn't help but wonder what my Dads were saying.

Was something else happening to Maddie?
---
That next day, Maddie was sitting on the benches again. Ava was inside and Kelly was out sick today, so it was just me.

I took a deep breath and walked over to the bench. Sitting right next to her. Today, she didn't flinch. But she turned her head slightly again.

"Maddie?" I asked. "You okay?"
"I'm sorry..." Maddie choked, "I'm sorry for everything I've done to you in the past..."
"Why are you apologizing?" I asked.
"I just wanted to, okay?" Maddie asked.
"Why aren't you looking at me?" I asked.
"Because... I don't want to." Maddie responded.

I was silent for a moment before talking again.

"Whatever you're hiding, I-I'll keep it a secret." I claimed. "I promise..."

Maddie didn't move for a second. But then, she finally faced me. I noticed her with a black eye. It was all red and swollen, as if it had just happened.

"What happened with your eye?" I asked.
"I tripped... and fell..." Maddie said.

I thought about what Daddy M had said last night. I knew right away she wasn't telling the truth.

"Maddie... I know that's not what happened..." I assured.
"You know?" Maddie asked.
"No..." I shook my head.

Maddie sighed, almost looking like she was ready to cry.

"Okay..." She cried. "My Dad gave it to me last night... And for no reason."

My eyes widened. Her Dad hit her?

"Have you told anybody?" I asked.
"Nobody believes me." Maddie responded. "I couldn't tell my mom because she's facing the same thing... And I was scared to tell anybody else because if my Dad found out, he would hurt me even more!"
"You have to tell somebody!" I said.
"I don't want to!" Maddie exclaimed.
"Then let me!" I said.

She immediately grabbed my arm.

"No! You can't!" Maddie said. "You think it's easy just to tell somebody but it's not! Something will always happen that will hurt you in the end! My Dad is basically the reason we still have things! If we say anything and send him to jail, we won't have anything left! If I keep to myself..."
"You'll be hurt even more..." I responded.

I sat back down. Not knowing what else to do.

"Maddie..." I said. "Your secret is safe with me..."
"T-Thank you..." Maddie responded.

Throughout the rest of the afternoon, I stayed with her. But we both didn't say anything else.
---

4/4/20

Dear Diary,

I don't know what to do. I've never kept a secret this big before. I'm scared to even tell my Dads. They probably know I'm keeping something from them because I haven't smiled the entire day after finding out. I'm scared that if I tell them, they'll call somebody and take Maddie's dad away from them. Leaving them with nothing.

I'm just hoping nothing else happens to her.

Em

~~~~~~~~~~~
I apologize if anything from this chapter is a trigger warning or haunts you because you suffered the same thing! I promise you you're not alone and you can get through this!

But what do you think Emily should do?

More to come!
~Jackir30