Wild Ride - The Alternative Version (Book 2)

Chapter 52~Here Comes Goodbye, Here Comes The Pain

A guard brought us to the room they'd been keeping Abbie in, both of us trudging along with heavy hearts and tears in our eyes. We'd left a couple things for Abbie in her suitcase without her knowing if it came to this, but we didn't think that it actually would. My mind was racing overwhelmingly, as I tried to figure out how I was supposed to say goodbye to Abbie while I tried mapping out ways to reverse this even though I know that was impossible to do. All rulings are final, there's nothing anyone can do to return the parental rights for Abbie back to us. 

The guard paused at the door to open it and as he swung it open, I could see Abbie sitting across from the door at a table, and she looked up at us with excitement, her eyes bright. That broke my heart even further. The guard looked over his shoulder at us and said calmly,

"You'll be given a few minutes to say goodbye, but keep it short." 

We nodded in response as he left after we stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. I looked back up at Abbie, the excitement on her face had now dissolved completely and a look of worry filled her eyes that no longer shone brightly. She still held Mr. Quacks close to her as she got out of her seat and walked around the table, and brought him even closer now before she stuttered out,

"G-Goodbye?" I swallowed hard, neither of us able to meet her eyes now. "But... but you promised." She sounded baffled. "You never break your promises." Abbie set Mr. Quacks on the table and came closer.

"We did everything we could. We tried, Abbie, we really did, but it wasn't enough." My voice was near a whisper. 

Abbie started to get really panicked, tears already streaming from her eyes. "But... you didn't do anything wrong! This isn't fair!" 

Elise kneeled down in front of her, taking both of her hands and gently pulling her closer to her. "I know this really sucks, but there's nothing we can do to change it. I wish there was, but there isn't. What you have to do now, is be really brave, as brave as you can. I know it's hard, but you have to try and just be strong. Do you think you can do that for us?" She asked Abbie as she wiped her tears away, her own dripping from her eyes. Abbie nodded, sniffling. "Good. Now, if she does anything to hurt you, you run, ok? Run and find someone that can help you, because if she hits you or anything like that, we can try to get you back." 

"Ok, but who do I go to for help?" 

"You can find Uncle Eric and Aunt Stacy, or even Cameron and he can tell them. If she still lives in the house that I grew up in, then they're right next door, and you can get to their house easily by a path in the woods beside a small blue shed. The path is short, it wouldn't take you long to get there even if you were walking. If she doesn't live there, you know their phone number, right?"

"Yeah." Abbie said quietly.

"Alright, then you can probably figure out what to do with that on your own. If you can't get to them, then go straight to the police, even if that does scare you a little. She's going to try to change you in big ways, but don't give into her, stay true to yourself. Do you understand?" Abbie nodded, and Elise looked down at the ground for a moment before looking back up at her, forcing a small smile. I knew what was coming next, and it was breaking me to watch, I was already silently sobbing like a baby. 

"Well, with that aside--" She began, but Abbie shook her head.

"Don't say it, Mom. Don't say the 'G' word, I don't like that word in situations like this." A big sniffle erupted out of her, and the tears started to make comeback that was even worse than when they'd first started. 

Elise took a deep breath. "I don't like it either, so what if you just give me one really big hug before you go?" She barely had time to get the words out of her mouth before Abbie practically became a baby koala and clung to her, hiding her face in her shoulder while she cried. Elise kissed the side of her head and rubbed her back. I had to turn to face a different direction, wiping my eyes and trying to keep myself somewhat under control like Elise was doing better than I was, but I could tell she didn't have the easiest time holding it back either.