War of Peace

Chapter Five

Madison

I lead Emma to the creek. She might not remember it as well as I do, but it's where she and mom found me all those years ago. When we're close enough to hear the pretty sound of flowing water, I ask if she remembers the time I ran away.

"Yea, of course I do."

"Well this is where you and mom found me," I explain as we approach the water. "By this creek."

"It is! Mom and I were walking from over there," she points towards the trees in the distance. "and we saw you by the creek. You looked so terrified but when you saw me you were so happy."

Emma smiles, almost tearing up at the remembrance.

"Yea. Now we can trace our way back home from here. I wonder if mom's home," I say, hoping she isn't.

She would make a scene of her drunken self, yelling about how we weren't home last night, not even worried that our school was taken over by the government and that we could've been killed. She probably wasn't even sober enough last night to know what was happening. Rarely is she ever sober, and even when she is, she's still an awful mother.

We begin walking home out of the forest, the striking water becoming more and more faint.

"I doubt mom is even worried about us. She's probably sitting around, worrying how she'll pay for her next drink, or going through our rooms to find money. She probably hasn't even noticed we're not home yet," Emma says with a sigh of irritation.

I think of all the times my mother has stolen my money. She can't find her own job because she's never been sober enough. Emma and I have been fending for ourselves for as long as I can remember. Before both of us could get official jobs, we would be dog walking the neighbors, babysitting, mowing lawns and doing anything we could to earn enough money to eat. Somedays we would walk to the store together before Emma had her drivers license. We would buy groceries for the week. Mom was barely on and I wouldn't be surprised if one day she just never came home or died of alcohol poisoning. It's sad but true.

She speaks again, "Maddie, I've always been there for you and I'm always going to be, you know that right?"

"And I'm always going to be there for you," I reply in a level way.

"Maddie, don't do this right now. You're the youngest and we both know you need me more than I need you."

That might be true, but we're only one year apart, and if I'm not there for her, then, who is?

We finally exit the woods and are only a street or two away from our house. I decide it's best not to say anything else, so it remains silent until we reach Mayberry Drive. I immediately spot our mother's rusty black Honda that's parked in our driveway. Emma's eyes flicker with irritation and fear.

"What do we do now?" I ask, almost whispering.

It's too risky to try and sneak into the house without being heard. If mom finds us, we won't be leaving that house for the rest of the day.

"Let's see if Ali and Lia are home," Emma implies.

"And if their parents are home?" I ask, making sure we are aware of all the possibilities.

"It doesn't hurt to check. We need to get supplies for the others."

I suppose she's right. We do need supplies and right now it's our only option. I think about all the sleepovers we've had at Ali and Lia's house. Every time our mother was super drunk–or wasn't even home–Ali and Lia's family were more than welcoming to have us over. I feel like I've spent half of my life at their house.