Wallflower // s.m

three.

THIS UPDATE IS FOR SHAWN! HAPPY BIRTHDAY OMG YOU'RE 16!

(Lol still can't believe last week I named it Fading... :O - m-s-l)

. . .

ADELAIDE’S POV

“Can I come in?” I whispered quietly, standing awkwardly in the doorway as I knocked on the doorframe, flakes of white paint falling off revealing the beat up wooden layer underneath.

“Look who’s here, Thomas – it’s Addy.” My mother cheered, talking to him as if he were a kid; dazed and helpless.

“Where?” He asked excitedly, looking around from his bed comically.

I walked over sheepishly, pulling up next to my mom as she smiled, wrapping an arm around me tightly while the other rested on his hand, stroking it softly.

“Hey dad.” I muttered as my mother pulled away from my father’s grip, her fingers sliding down his calloused fingertips.

“I’ll let you two have your alone time.” She whispered into my hair before planting a soft kiss on my forehead, removing her warm embrace back to her side as she walked out of the room, leaving me  there to sit on the rickety wooden chair by my dad; who lay there, as pale as snow, with deep rings of blue circling his eyes from lack of sleep, the crinkles in his face seeming to deepen.

“How’s my little Addy?” He smiled, automatically lighting up my face with happiness, until he sat upright, leaning forward in a fit of coughs while I circled his back soothingly, guiding him softly back onto his pillow.

“I’m good - don’t worry about me.” I said, his hand reaching up to my cheek, as I shakily cupped my warm hand over his.

“Oh but I do; every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day.” He replied, fluttering his eyes shut as he slid his hand back under the other so that it lay resting on his chest peacefully.

“Don’t do that.” I quickly warned, moving his hands back to his side.

“It looks like you’re um… you’re – you know… dead.” I muttered, biting down hard on my bottom lip to prevent any tears from coming out.

“Adelaide – I’m going to be here for a long time, I can promise you that.” He soothed.

“If we have the money to get you the medicine you needed.” I sighed, knowing that it was almost impossible.

We lived at the end of a dead end street of equally shabby houses, and dead gardens full of nothing but weeds and soil. We barely got by as each week passed, sometimes having to ration the small amount of food that lay in the fridge moulding away since we tried to ration for so long. We were so close to me not even being able to go to school, and well college… I had completely thrown that dream out the window.

All I needed was my dad – the cheery, bright and intelligent guy who would wander around the house telling bad jokes and constantly reminding me that someday, we would get away from this - and I would be able to go to university and get the life he thought I deserved.

“We will eventually. We still have money from the redundancy, and your my wages along with our family savings!” He cheered, far from lifting my spirits.

“You mean the $23 sitting in a jar on the mant-”

“$23.76 cents to be exact.” He joked, reminding me of his old healthy self.

“It’s still not enough – maybe if I just drop out of school, we can use the mo-”

“I refuse to be as greedy as to take away a life that could take you places, just for some measly medicine Addy.” He stated firmly, lines forming in his forehead.