Addy had just woken up. Her eyes hadn't opened yet, but something felt different. She yawned and smiled. Her eyes began to open, and that was when she realized. She was in a new bed. A new place. Because she lived with Steve now. And her mom was dead. She felt herself go numb. Her fingers started to tingle and her eyes began to burn. She exhaled deeply, her breath shaking. She looked at the clock beside her and saw that it was 2:45am. She hadn't been asleep for very long. She had never been afraid of the dark. But now, she felt as though the darkness in every corner was swallowing her. Her whole being began to shake. She picked herself up out of the bed and walked into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and sat by the dim glow. She shut her eyes and decided that she wanted to pray. She didn't know to who. Or if she was even praying. No. She wasn't. She was just talking. To her mom. No. To no one. Her mom wouldn't hear her.
"What am I supposed to do now?" she whispered.
"Hi, Adds are you okay?" A voice said from behind her.
She looked up at Steve and said, "No. Not really."
He reached his hands down toward her and lifted her up, the fridge door shutting behind her, the darkness stealing her again.
She threw herself forward into a hug, and Steve just held her.
"Why is this life?"
"I don't know, Addy. But it isn't fair."
Addy rested her head on Steve's chest and sobbed. She was scared. Terrified even.
"I'm scared, Steve."
"I know. Me too."
Their shared feelings somehow made Addy feel better. She couldn't lose her strength now. She had no choice but to try to push through everything that was happening.
"Steve?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I call you Dad?"
Steve exhaled and let out a gentle laugh.
"Yeah, baby girl. You can call me whatever you want to."
Addy smiled into Steve's chest. "Okay."
"Okay," Steve replied.
"I never really had a dad."
"I know, Addy."
"I always wanted one."
"Well," Steve paused. "Now you have one."
Addy felt just the slightest bit better. For the first time since it all began, Addy thought that maybe she had a shot at being happy again.
"I love you, Adelaide."
"I love you too, daddy."
YOU ARE READING
The Adventures of Adelaide Banner
General FictionAdelaide Banner, the niece of renowned scientist Bruce Banner, has had quite the life. Her mother had just been killed in a car accident and Bruce had been missing for what seemed like forever. Now, Addy was the only Banner whose whereabouts were kn...
