P4peach
"I hate my name." She whispers.
I pull back, looking at her in surprise. "What?"
She looks up at me, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. "Maddenly," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "I hate it. I sometimes think it's like some sort of prophecy...Maddenly...like I'm meant to live up to it. Like I'm meant to go mad."
My heart breaks for her, for the pain and fear that's been building inside her. I take her face in my hands, wiping away her tears with my thumbs. "You're not going mad," I tell her, my voice firm. "You're strong, Maddenly. You're resilient. And I'm here for you, no matter what."
She looks up at me, her eyes searching mine, and for a moment, I think she might believe me. But then she just shakes her head, and the tears start flowing again. I pull her back into my arms, holding her tight as she cries, trying to absorb some of her pain, trying to be her rock in this moment.