In My Heart

Prologue

"Madison, catch!" A 7 year old Allison yelled. Madison giggled, tossing the ball across the small, well-maintained yard. Instead of catching the rather large kickball, the 6 year old girl collapsed, barely grasping it, and rolled into the street. "Madi, are you okay?" Allison shouted worriedly, blocking the light from her face as she tried to see her friend. But what she thought was the sun, was actually headlights. As Madison just began to stand up, she looked to her left. Allison froze. "Madison, look out!"

Then there was darkness.

•••

Allison swung her legs back and forth sluggishly, looking down in her lap. ''There's not much to do in a hospital, only worry about the patient locked away with strangers experimenting on them like animals.'' she thought. ''I just want Madi back...'' Just then, the main doctor walked out of Madison's room. "Little girl, you are waiting for Madison Shaw, correct?" Allison eagerly nodded, wanting her companion to be okay. The doctor opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, almost as if he was contemplating what to tell her. Finally, the doctor spoke. "Come with me, dear, I can tell you want to see her." He said in a low tone with a small smile. Allison hesitantly followed the man into Madison's respective room. "Here she is, ma'am," The doctor explained politely. "I'll leave you two to talk for a while, eh?" Then the tall man exited, quietly shutting the door behind him. Madison turned her head towards her friend laying in the hospital bed. "Madi I'm sorry. If I hadn't been playing so rough, none of this would have happened." Allison whispered sadly, making her way closer to an injured Madison. Madison looked her friend straight in the eyes. "Alli, I'm not dead, am I?" She joked with a sarcastic chuckle. "Mads, I don't want you to die. Do you not understand? You're my best friend in the whole wide world. Where would I be without you?" Alli took a deep breath, still keeping eye contact with the other girl. "Allison, after I get out of here, I have to go back to Tennessee... my daddy is getting a job there and he says it will help us a lot." Madison softly stated, tears rolling down her pale cheeks. Allison went numb. "I-I'm gonna miss you though." Madison lightly nodded. "I know, I'm gonna miss you too."

•••

Allison was practically bouncing off the walls when Madison was released from the hospital after the accident, however, Madison felt empty inside. She didn't want to lose her best friend. That was all she could think about while the two girls sat in the grass, enjoying their last playdate together. Allison kept talking and talking, while Madison was lost in her own thoughts, blocking out the very ecstatic girl next to her. "Alli," Madison called, shifting her gaze over to meet the dirty-blonde's eyes attentively. "Why are you so happy?" Allison only giggled and hugged her depressed friend. "Cheer up, Madi! Even though you are moving away, we can still talk. And I'll come visit you whenever you want, okay?" Allison broke the hug, giving the younger girl a reassuring smile. Madison smiled back at her. Se knew Allison was right, they would see each other again one day. Though they were both so young, the girls were extremely mature for their age. "Madison, dear, your  mother is here to take you to the airport!" Allison's mom yelled, peaking through the cracked-open back door. Allison sighed. "Let's go.." Madison grabbed her friend's small hand, running inside to get her bags. Soon, Madison was ready to take her leave. Allison stopped her at the front door, not wanted to say goodbye just yet. Madison pulled Allison in for a giant hug, neither young girl eager to let go. But as Madison's mom honked loudly from inside the car, both girls knew it was time to let each other go. Allison gently took both of Madison's hands and faced her. "Promise you'll never forget me." "I pinky promise." They agreed, linking pinkies and smiling brightly.

And with that, Allison Edmonds' heart shattered.