Even Though (Joey Richter fanfiction)

Chapter 16

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After we had eaten pancakes, Joey drove me home.

"Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?" he asked as we sat in his car outside Maggie's house. I smiled and nodded, squeezing his hand.

"I think it's better for her to talk to me alone." I said, "But thank you."

He nodded and smiled as I kissed him on the cheek and got out of the car. I waved as he drove away, and then turned to face the house.

I took a deep breath and walked forwards. As I opened the door I called Maggie's name tentatively.

"I'm in the living room.. Aliana." Maggie called, hesitating near the end of her sentence as if she had forgotten my name. I stiffened slightly as I closed the door behind me. She never called me Aliana.

I walked down the hall and into the living room, looking around the room as I walked in. Maggie was standing at the window, biting her nails.

"Maggie? You okay?" I asked, concerned. I walked over to her, placing my hand uncertainly upon her shoulder. She turned her head to look at me, and I was startled to see that she was crying.

"Mags? What's wrong?" I asked, quickly wrapping my arms around her. She buried her head in my shoulder and started to sob. I hugged her tightly, at a loss for what to do.

"Al-Ali-Aliana, I don't know what to do," Maggie said in between her sobs.

"Come on, into the kitchen. I'll make you some tea." I said, leading her into the kitchen and making her sit down.

I put the kettle on and grabbed a cup and a tea bag before turning back to face Maggie, who was trying futilely to wipe away her tears. It reminded me a bit of myself from the night before.

I set down the tea and sat in front of her, watching her anxiously. She picked up the cup with shaking hands and took a very small sip, before placing it back down.

"Maggie? Can you tell me what's wrong..?" I asked gently.

She looked up at me, her eyes still full of tears. She took a deep breath and nodded, as though preparing for something. "Aliana... I- I went to the doctors a few days ago.." she began, her voice hardly more than a whisper. I frowned slightly and leaned forwards so I could hear her. "I didn't think there was anything serious wrong with me.."

I started to panic quietly. Was there something wrong with her?

"I just kept.. Forgetting things. Just simple things at first, like what was going to be on television, or what the season finale of 'Cougar Town' had been about.. But then I started forgetting more, like what time you would be home at, or sometimes I would even forget that you're staying with me.."

My stomach clenched painfully. I was beginning to get an idea of what she was trying to say. "Maggie," I began, "What- I mean, the doctor had an explanation, right? Everything's going to be fine.." my voice trailed off hopefully, but Maggie shook her head.

"No, baby. It's not fine. He- he told me to visit the hospital so they could run some tests and- Aliana, I have Alzheimer's."

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I was sitting on the couch in the living room with my head in my hands. Maggie was sitting across from me, completely silent. She hasn't said a word since she had told me about her Alzheimer's.