A Faded Memory

2//The Last Straw

Two sets of very tired arms and legs later, we arrive back home. Mum took Mackenzie and I shopping, just as she'd promised me earlier today. Mackenzie has redeclared her ongoing reign of the confectionary isle in Woolworths for the whole public to see. I did the pretend I'm texting someone and not know who she is the whole time as per usual, the embarrassment is unnecessary.

I basically bought one of everything in my size in Kmart and Target. What can I say? I love my clothes. I also bought some new black, leather converses, a pair of black Billabong thongs and a new swimsuit from City Beach.

I tried to keep Madalyn's disappearance off my mind while shopping, but I just couldn't. This morning when I found her room empty was still fresh in my brain. I wanted to push it to the back of my mind for that time, I really did but everything stays fresh in my mind longer than it should. I say it's a curse, mum, Madalyn and Mackenzie believe differently, they said I should be grateful for it but when something like this happens I'm anything but grateful for it.

I take my bags up to my bedroom to put them away in my wardrobe. Although Madalyn's gone I bought some stuff for her also, so I took it to her bedroom down the hall and put it away neatly in her wardrobe.

I was caught up in playing Subway Surfers when mum called out for dinner. I put my phone on charge before heading downstairs to eat. The smell of steak and gravy filled the air. I took a seat at the table and played with the food with my fork.
"Maisie, stop playing with your food and start eating it," Mum said, pulling me out of my trance.
"Sorry mum," I said before starting to pick at it slowly.
After what had felt like forever I'd finished my meal and took it to the dishwasher.

I started heading back up to my bedroom but catching a quick glance of mum and Kenzie watching television. They were watching the latest episode of Madalyn's favourite show Riverdale without her. How could they do that and not feel any pain from it?

I turned on my heels and stormed off to my room. I took a seat on my egg shaped chair by the window and stared out it blankly. It was windy and raining, I hadn't been there long before I felt a tear fall from my eye. More followed within a few seconds and I was soon a walking waterfall. I grabbed some pajamas out of my wardrobe and went into my ensuite to have a shower. The shower made my crying and gasps for air inaudible to mum and Mackenzie thankfully. I couldn't have them worry about me when they needed to be focused on Madalyn's disappearance, but they couldn't even do that.
"I'll find you Madalyn, I will," I said quietly to myself before turning off the shower and wrapping myself in the white, fluffy towel.

One might say I looked like a walking disaster if they were to see me at this exact moment, and I wouldn't disagree. My eyes were bloodshot from the crying, my throat was hurting from the constant need to gasp for air and all the rest of it that came with it. I took myself to bed and didn't even glance at my phone before trying to go to sleep. More tears fell I closed my eyes before mum came in.

"It's going to be okay Maisie, we'll find her," mum says, in an attempt to comfort me.
"You didn't even bother trying to search for her or call the police today," I cry whilst I turned my back to her.
"It hasn't been twenty-four hours yet Maisie, you know that," mum replies.
"So? I want my sister back and you haven't done anything to even try to find her!" I almost scream.
"I want my daughter back, I know how you feel," mum says.
"If you wanted her back as badly as you claim to you'd be out there searching the streets and the forest, but you aren't so you clearly don't!" I yell.
"It's 10 o'clock Maisie, god what do you want from me!" Mum says.
"I want you to go look for her or at least call the damn police! You could've searched today but you didn't, you spent the day with Mackenzie. You don't care mum so stop acting like it, you only love Kenzie and we both see it," I yell.

I guess you could say that was the last straw. I grabbed my phone and stormed into the ensuite, locking it before crumpling onto the floor. I ignore mums pleads and she soon gives up. If she  cared she'd still be trying to get me to come out, but she doesn't, she only cares about Mackenzie.

I pull my phone out and open my messages with Shae.

Me: Hey Shae, I'm kind of having a breakdown and need someone to calm me down.
Within a few seconds my screen lit up.
Shae: Yeah sure Mai, anything for you :).
Me: Thanks chikki, you never betray me.
Shae: No worries, so wanna tell me what's happening to cause your breakdown so I can help?
Me: Yeah, I guess that'd help haha
Shae: Well done sherlock haha. Now what's up?
Me: Madalyn's gone missing and mum and Mackenzie don't really care. Mum won't go out and look for her because it's late and won't call the police.
Shae: Ahh I see. Mackenzie still the golden child?
Me: Of course, when isn't she?
Shae: When I'm over haha. I'm probably not helping much sorry.
Me: You've been more help then mum and Mackenzie ever will be.
Shae: True true. Where are you now?
Me: I locked myself in my bathroom, mature I know.
Shae: You have your reasons. Want me to come over?
Me: How do you plan on getting out and in?
Shae: Mum's dead asleep and dad's on a business trip simple. And getting in? I've climbed up the tree in and out of your room enough times I could do it in my sleep.
Me: Ok. I forgot about all the times you've sneaked in and out when I've been grounded or whatever haha.
Shae: I figured that much out haha. I'm just gonna grab some stuff then I'll be over, until then stay calm ok?
Me: I'll try. See you soon
Shae: Yep. Byeee
Me: Byeeee

After what felt like an eternity later, Shae was climbing through my bedroom window once again. Once she had her balance she gave me a rib crushing hug.

"Took you long enough," I laugh through the tears.
"I had to find my keys and get up here quietly, both not easy in the dark, cut me some slack," Shae retorts.
"I was just trying to make a joke, calm down woman," I reply.
"I know, now tell me the story in full," Shae says taking a seat on my bed. A lot of tears later I tell her the whole story, as she holds me in her arms basically.
"We're gonna look for her tomorrow okay. I'll climb down at 8ish and knock on the door and away we'll go," Shae says before I fall asleep in her grasp.