The next day, I woke up early in the morning. Not too early where it is still dark out, but early enough to watch the sun rise. I opened the curtains and looked out the window and sure enough, the sun was on its horizon, just about ready to light up the town with its warmth.
I slowly walked down the hall and to my bathroom where I took a long warm shower. It has been almost two weeks since I've gone without taking a shower and I honestly don't know how I managed. Once I got out of the shower, I put on a set of clean clothes and I was able to breathe for once.
I took a deep breath as I walked down the stairs into the kitchen. My mom was already in her work clothes as she held a cup of coffee while her other hand was holding a phone up to her ear. When she saw me, she immediately ended the conversation and gave me a hug that I didn't realize I needed.
"Emily, are you okay?" She asked me and I just nod my head as I take a seat at the kitchen table. "Are you feeling any better?"
I shrug my shoulders not knowing how to answer that. All I knew is, not only did I need my friends, I knew that they needed me. Pushing them away was wrong and I regretted everything. Although Maddie was still out there alone, afraid, who knows, I still had two best friends and for now, that would be enough.
"I think I'm going to try going to school today" I tell my mom. She looks at me, unsure of my decision. Sure, I've gone to school about three times this month but Dani was right about what she said yesterday. I needed to move forward, Maddie can't be the reason why I'm being held back.
"School? Are you sure?" My Mom asks. This time, I smile at her. I felt bad for pushing her away too because I know that she needed me as well.
"Yeah, I'm sure" I say more confidently. My mom checks the time on her watch.
"Well, you better get ready." My Mom says with a smile. I run up to my room and grab my school bag which was shoved into the corner of my room. I grab a few notebooks and pens before grabbing my phone and heading back into the kitchen. I sat in the living room for a few minuets before hugging my mom bye and heading out the door.
I step into my car and drive to my high school. For some reason it felt like the first day of school all over again. I step out of my car and I can feel the warmth of the sun against my skin. I grab my bag from the backseat and start heading towards the courtyard where I know Dani and Rose would be because that was always our spot.
When I walked into the courtyard I started searching for Dani and Rose until I saw someone with beach wavy red hair walk pass me. My eyes widen as I start to follow her and when she turned around my heart sank. She looked exactly like Maddie, with the same red hair and dark brown eyes.
"Emily?" I hear someone say. I turn around and see Rose and Dani walking towards me.
"God I've missed you" Rose whispers into my ear as she wraps me into a tight hug. As soon as she released me Dani took my hand and squeezed it.
"Are you okay?" She asks me and I just shrug my shoulders once again. I'd never be able to answer that question because I simply didn't have the words to. "It's really good to see you, Em" Dani tells me and I smile at her.
"Well, you were right. You both were"
"About what? Rose asks.
"Everything" I say. With that, we all head to class together. The school day went by slowly and eventually when it came to lunch, I went to my locker to meet with Dani and Rose. When I opened my locker, I saw a picture of Maddie and I on my locker. I remembered Maddie taping it onto my locker.
"The same picture is taped onto mine, too" Maddie said as she looked at me with a smile, "it's probably my favorite picture"
"Well, I love it" I tell her and she smiles at me once more.
"I'll see you later, Em" She says and with that she walked down the hall and disappeared into the crowd of people.
My heart was racing as I slammed my locker shut, unable to hold back the tears. I went straight towards the bathroom before I heard my name being called, "Em, wait up!" I hear Rose's familiar voice but I continue walking before she finally caught up with me.
"Hey, hey, what's wrong" Rose asks me as she stops me from walking any further.
"I can't do this" I tell her, still thinking about Maddie.
"What happened" She asks, concerned.
"I... I just can't do this" and so I pushed past her and ran to the bathroom where I locked myself into a bathroom stall. I knew that coming to school was a bad idea. All of these memories of Maddie and I clogged up my mind and it almost made it hard to breathe and impossible to think. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I knew my make up was getting ruined.
"Emily, please talk to us" I hear Dani say but I don't answer, I just wanted to be alone. "Come on, Em, you don't have to go through this alone anymore. We're here, Emily, and we're not leaving"
"Em, just talk to us, let us help you" Rose says but I ignore them. I just wanted to be alone.
**********
Thank you all so much for reading! I hope you liked it!
Leave your thoughts below and don't forget to vote!
All the love,
Hannah
YOU ARE READING
Against Hope
Romance"I thought she was going to tell me that she loved me, I thought I stood a chance"
