Kleptomania | Billie Eilish

Twenty One

Billie

I was almost scared half to death when I found Maddie outside of my bedroom window. All she had requested was for her to stay the night with me. Not to talk about what's bothering her or for me to do something for her. She just wanted my company.

But I hesitated at the request to not ask questions.

After she climbed through my window, I brought her into the bathroom to look at her cheek. Which was a mix of red, blue, and very swollen.

She didn't tell me what had happened but I asked her questions until I eventually got a story out of her. I don't like prying, and frankly, it's none of my business. but I worry about Maddie. I know that her dad has problems and there was that other time where Maddie has bad bruising on her ribs. She broke down the same way that night. It's getting to the point where I feel I have to help. While cleaning her wounds, I belatedly got answers.

"Who did this you, Maddie?" I ask her as she stares off into space. She continues to stare, unfazed by my question.

"Did your mom or dad hit you?" I ask softly.

"Dad." she looks up at me with watery eyes.

I clench my jaw, "why did he hit you?"

Again, silence.

"I threatened him." She finally says.

I run a washcloth under warm water from the sink and hand it to Maddie, "put this around your neck, it'll help you feel better."

She places the towel around her the back of her neck. I knell down in front of her as she sits on the toilet seat, "did he make you mad?"

She looks down at the floor and slowly nods her head, "he called you bad things."

I bite my bottom lip, "then what happened?"

She gulps. "I punched him... threatened him again and then left."

"Where was your mom?"

"She watched it happen. She let him hit me and I hit him. Before I left... she said she was gonna turn me in. But I threatened to turn her in for-" she stops mid-sentence. She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and takes a deep breath in. "Never mind,"  she starts again. "But then she pussied out and let me go."

"I'm not letting you go back there," I state while standing back up.

She shakes her head, "no Billie I'm fine. They're probably scared of me, they won't do anything again."

"I'm not letting you go back into an abusive household."

"I-It's not abusive Bil," she puts her head in her hands. "I'm used to it, I don't know why I got so upset."

"You've had enough of it, that's why." I kneel back down in front of her, "Is that true?" I ask her face still buried in her palms.

She looks back up at me with tears running down her face. She slowly nods, "I'm so fucking sorry you have to deal with my shit, Billie. We haven't even known each other for that long and I'm dragging you into my shitty life."

"No, don't say that," I plead while resting my hand on her knee. "Who cares if we've known each other for two months, I care about you. That's what people do for each other, help one another out."

She looks back down at the floor and her mouth curves into a small frown. "I'm just sorry," she mumbles quietly, "I'll try to be better, I won't lift or hurt anyone." She stops and breaths in, "I just need your help. You're the only one who's truly understood my reasoning for shoplifting. And  I think me stealing is why I'm so angry all the time and so-- just, violent. I don't want to be but I need help and my parents won't help me."