After All • Calum Hood (Sequel to ISTTY)

57

—Again, thank you for everything, I never thought you'd be such an excellent son-in-law as you are -Annie says almost whimpering-

—Don't worry -I try to calm her down and walk away a little bit as I realise more people were walking towards her-

The burial was full of people, people I've never seen in my life before, I'm standing a little bit further away along with my parents & Wyatt, Mali is next to Madeleine supporting her, she would come and go from time to time. Madeleine wouldn't stop looking at me and it was beyond obvious but I still think it's better for me to be away from her, my mum has advised me to go and support her but I honestly don't feel like it. When it comes to the boys, all of them asked me about Madeleine, I just told them she fell, I wasn't in the mood to actually explain the whole story through a phone call, I'll just actually tell them what happened when I see them personally

—You really aren't going to walk to her? Look at the way she's looking at you

—Mum -I say in an annoyed voice already tired of being sermoned thanks to the same thing. The curiosity of seeing Madeleine attacks me since my back is facing her-

—It just doesn't look the right thing to do, son

—Keeping from me that she was pregnant wasn't the right thing to do, yet, she did it -I look up at the sky trying to avoid her glance-

—Son...

—Joy -my dad grunts- I think you've said enough times what you think is right and what you think isn't. As you can see by now, our son is a grown up man now, able to make his own choices and learn from them... He'll see whether he acted right or not later

—Thank you -I say clenching my teeth. My mother let out a sigh-

The burial went through really slow and sad, Madeleine seemed to be pretty bad, she was crying so much her eyes were swell and the tip of her nose red, it hurts me to see her like this because I love her but my moral didn't allow me to walk to her. Annie & Madeleine said their last goodbye and everything ended, my parents left on my dad's car, Mali left on her car and I'd took Annie to her house to go to our flat later, today would be the first time Madeleine and I spend time together since I left from the hospital room. The walk to Annie's house was totally quiet, she said goodbye in between tears and Madeleine let her know that if she needed anything, she shouldn't hesitate to call. Then the ride back "home" was silently and I swear I've never felt so awkward in my life before, she was quiet but she wouldn't take her eyes off me, meanwhile Wyatt was sound asleep. We quietly walked from the car to the flat, Madeleine was holding Wyatt, once we entered our living room she went straight to our bedroom, I didn't know what to do, I felt like an outsider on my own home. I threw myself on the sofa and turned the TV on, trying to distract myself.

I don't know when, but I fell asleep on the sofa, waking up at least 4hrs later—still no sign from Madeleine and any noise from Wyatt. I stood up lazily and walked to the kitchen only to realise Madeleine had cooked, and saved food for me, there was a plate with a note on top with my name on it. I grabbed it and reheated it, then ate on silence. After that, curiosity won me and I went to our bedroom only to make sure everything was alright, Wyatt was still asleep and Madeleine was sitting down on the bed, crying. I proceeded to close the door but she had seen me already

—Calum -she makes me stop from leaving-

—What? -I ask emotionless-

—Please, come

Even though I'm looking at her, so fragile right now, my heart wouldn't soften enough to easily forgive what she had done to me