When I wake again, my eyes feel heavy and swollen, as if I had gotten no sleep at all. I look around the room, seeing my father curled up and asleep in the armchair beside my bed. I smiled, glad he was here with me.
I notice a glass of water on the tray beside my bed, and pick it up, taking small sips to try to relieve the dryness of my throat. I gingerly set it back down, and lean into the stiff mattress.
Where could Harry be? I find myself wondering. He's never just disappeared without reason, not since we were... Whatever we are.
I tell myself that he's fine, that he'll be back soon, protecting me from anything and everything, including mom.
I look over at my dad, who stretches out, taking a deep breath. His eyes slowly open, and he smiles when he sees that I'm awake.
"Hey kiddo," he says, leaning back in the chair. "How ya feeling?"
I shrug. "Okay I guess. What time is it?" He glances down at his watch.
"Three A. M. Doc said you could leave tomorrow afternoon."
I laugh. "This afternoon," I correct him, trying to annoy him. He just laughs shaking his head.
"Same difference."
The two of us talk and laugh for about an hour longer, and I never once mention what mom did. I can't bring myself to. He would never believe me, he couldn't. He'd be torn between the two of us, he loves us both so much.
Eventually, we both fall asleep, happy thoughts in our minds.
/\/\/\/\
I go home at around three in the afternoon. My dad brings me home, singing in the car the whole way. It hurts my head tremendously, but I can't bring myself to tell him this. I don't want to ruin his bad mood.
I sigh in relief when we pull into the garage at home. We step into the house, and see my mother sitting at the kitchen table, reading the paper. She makes eye contact with me for a brief second, before looking at my father. I could almost smell the tension.
"What's for dinner?" He asks, rubbing his hands together. I sigh in relief at his ice-breaker, and head out of the kitchen and toward the stairs.
"Take it easy, Maddelynn!" I hear my father call to me. I wave him off as I begin to climb the stairs. Instead of heading into my room, I go straight into the studio.
I glance around the room, trying to find the evidence I need: the broken glass bottle. I know it broke, I can vaguely remember hearing the bits and pieces of glass hitting the floor. It may not have cut me, but the impact of it crashing onto my skull was enough to break it.
I gasp when I see a bottle of whiskey in perfect condition lying in the exact same place I had put my empty bottle when I had finished it off. I wasn't drinking whiskey, however. I had been drinking Vodka. Plus, I had finished it. This bottle still had a third of the drink left. I scowl at my mother's scheme. Who else would have done this?
I huff and turn out of the room, heading to my bedroom. What was I supposed to do? No one would believe me.
I slam the door to my room, and turn around, only to back up a few steps again in shock.
"Oh my gosh, Harry, you scared me to death!" I scold him. I expect him to laugh, or grin, or anything, but he just looks at me, a bit sadly.
"Where've you been?" I cross my arms, taking strides toward him. He looks at the floor, shaking his head.
"Madelynn, we need to talk," he speaks gravely. My heart drops to the pit of my stomach. Talk? About what?
He gestures for me to sit down on the edge of the bed with him. I reach for his hand, but he shakes his head again, scooting a good two feet away from me. I frown, feeling rejected.
"I'm leaving," he says finally, and my eyes immediately well up with tears. What? What does he mean?
"Harry? What do you mean you're leaving? You can't just leave me here, with everything going on, I'll die without you, I just-" he cuts me off my cupping a cold hand over my mouth. Tears are streaming out of my eyes and I gently sob, closing my eyes.
"I've been with Wayne for the past two days. He's been contacted by the leaders of The Hall." He pauses, clenching his eyes shut in... Pain?
"I can't be your Guardian any longer, Madelynn." As soon as the words leave his mouth, my eyes widen, and the whole world seems to stop.
