MADELINE

02|| reject

I know I said I'll update in a week; but I couldn't help myself, lol.

Also, thank you for 100 reads! Means a lot!! :)

~fail to show due affection or concern for (someone); rebuff~

[Heavily unedited]

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        Lillian stared blankly at the chipped off- white wall, her eyes blinking blankly, and her nose itchy and runny. The clock read '17:46'. Her fingers itched around the mug she was holding tightly around her chest. It was hot and she could feel the discomfort of her fingers getting burned little by little. She smiled slightly- she wanted it to burn her. It would ease the pain, she thought, it would make it all disappear into blurry fragments of images.

A noise from her right made her ear to twitch and she turned sharply, her neck giving an uncomfortable crack in response.

"It's just me"

The voice spoke in a soothing tone, but Lillian didn't feel at ease. She turned forward once more and the couch dipped heavily.

"You didn't call". His bushy eyebrows furrowed in concern and he held out a hand to reach for her. He pulled back.

Lillian waited. "I didn't think it was necessary", she said, her voice raspy. "It's still my house after all"

Raymond shifted uncomfortably, twisting his legs as much as his protruding belly could allow. Lillian has been behaving like this for the past three days and he feared that his wife might be mad. He turned towards her and could see her tear -stricken face, her mascara making black ugly lines down her hollow cheeks.

"How is she?" he asked. She didn't respond, but grasped the mug tighter; feeling the scorching heat it gave through her hands.

Lillian hung her head low and released a strangled cry. The mug fell from her hands and the shards fell around her feet. She felt pain shoot off from her foot and opened her eyes. It was bleeding.

"She doesn't remember me, George"

Raymond automatically opened his mouth to correct her. "It's Raymond"

"She thinks her mother tried to kill her. She's afraid of her mother George!" She turned sharply towards him and pointed a finger to her chest. "I'm her mother, George! I'm her mother and she doesn't remember me"

She laughs loudly, but it sounded strained. "When I realised that she didn't remember me, it was funny. Do you know why?" she asked.

Raymond shook his head in confusion.

"It's because I had thought she had gone even madder. But her eyes were filled with so much truth-it really seemed like she doesn't remember who I am, in fact, I don't think she remembers who she is"

Raymond sat quietly, twisting his chubby fingers in anxiety, his breaths coming out in short gasps. He didn't know what to say, but he couldn't deny the ecstatic feeling he felt in his chest. His mouth curled up in a tiny devious smile. He knew for a fact that Madeline never liked him and he made sure the feeling was mutual. If the furtive glances Madeline sent his way or the murderous glare he always fixed upon her, it was-

"What should I do George?"

Raymond turned towards her, his mouth opening in response to correct her. He shook his head and pressed his mouth in a thin, unforgiving line. "About what?"

She grasped the mug tighter. "Madeline"

He stared at her, his bushy eyebrows furrowing in confusion. He sighed. "Show her clips," he said.

Lillian raised her mouth in question. "Clips?"

Raymond nodded stiffly. "Yes. Show her clips of you and her together; maybe during her birthdays when she knew who you were. Maybe that would bring her memory back."

"She doesn't remember you George", she said quietly.

Raymond snorted quietly. "I'm her stepfather who she doesn't like. I wouldn't blame her, Lillian". Raymond grunted as he stood, the weight of his legs having pushed the cushion backwards. He started walking slowly, his feet being put in front of the other as he chanted in his head, the words tumbling out of his lips quietly: 'One step, two steps, three steps...'

He stood still and turned towards Lillian. "Are you coming?" he asked, his hand outstretched.

Lillian shook her head. "No, not yet"

Raymond watched his wife with hooded eyes and withdrew his hands. His chest felt tighter as he turned forward. Quietly, he mumbled to himself.

'One step, two steps, three steps...'

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-Ada