"I love you." Sawyer's voice came out gentle.
I pulled back a little, and my eyebrows moved closer.
"What?"
I'd never heard those words towards me before.
His face became serious.
"I realized why I couldn't get a relationship to stick. Why I always let you crawl into my bed all those nights. The reason I enjoyed talking to you about everything, the drive that made me need always to see a smile on your face," Sawyer paused. "because I love you."
My chest swelled.
"Really?"
Sawyer nodded and chuckled. That lopsided grin of his crept across his face making a wide one grow on my face.
"I know that it's a little late to realize my feelings for you, but it's true." His deep voice came out.
"I love you too."
Arching up, he captured my lips briefly.
"We should probably eat this ice cream before it melts all over your bed."
I giggled and got off Sawyer. He pulled the plastic bag from the edge of the bed to reveal the desserts.
The ice cream was long gone, and most of the cookies were too. Sawyer and I were lying under the covers watching a movie. My head rested on Sawyer's shoulder, and I could feel his hand across my back so that his hand was on my waist. His heartbeat drummed against my ear.
"Where are you going to school?"
"Boston."
Sawyer looked down at me.
"That's far." The words tumbled out of my mouth.
He nodded.
"Like Ricky told me, though. You're safe from my dad in here. You still have to see him, but he can't harm you in here." Sawyer squeezed me.
"Yeah. Dr. Green and his wife take good care of me here, but even they don't let anything slip about how long I'll be here."
"When I graduate, I promise I'll get us a place and take you away from here."
That sounded so good, but that was four years from now. Would I still be held here for four years? How long could they keep me? When I turned eighteen, would I be free like every other eighteen-year-old? Sawyer could change his mind in four more years.
"Sorry if that isn't comforting."
I angled my head. "It is, but at the same time, four years…"
"With your email, we can stay in constant contact."
I nodded. "True."
"I'll do whatever I can."
"You already are. Don't stress yourself out. I want you to experience college like everyone else. You need to live it like a normal person for the both of us."
"I'll try, but I'll still worry about you."
I closed my eyes as I felt his lips on my forehead.
"I love you, Maddie."
"I love you too, Sawyer."
I closed my eyes, and for the first time in months, I had a good night's sleep.
I stretched with my eyes still closed. I reached out to hold Sawyer, but all I got was fabric from the sheets. Opening my eyes, I was greeted by the sun that came in through the windows. Glancing around, though, Sawyer wasn't in sight as I sat up. I drew my knees in and held them. My eyes watered. It was great to see him, but at the same time, it was a tease. Those few hours with him made me remember everything that I was missing by being in here. I laid back down and stared out the window as I brought the sheets around me.
"Good morning." Beth's cheerful voice came through as she walked in. "You're still in bed?"
"I finally slept last night." I mumbled.
"That's great." I heard the door click. "Did you enjoy your surprise?"
My eyes watered. "I did, and now I don't know when I'll see him again. I'm stuck in this cage for the rest of my life, aren't I?"
I sat up to look at her. Her eyes were wide.
I rolled my eyes and ran into the bathroom. I locked the door behind me.
"Come on, Madeline, it'll be okay. You won't be locked up here forever. It's nice."
I paced from one side of the bathroom to the other. My fingers wiggled about. My eyes kept going from my feet, the walls, to the doors. Beth kept talking through the door.
"Easy for you to say. You can come and go as you please!" I shouted; my fists curled at my side.
It wasn't her fault. Beth had been nothing but pleasant to me, and I was taking it out on her. She was the closest thing I had to a mother.
After a little bit, I heard my door closed. Unlocking the door, I peeked out. Beth was gone. Walking out, I went to my bedroom door. No one was in the hallway. I ran to the emergency exit stairs. The slab steps were cool and sleek under the soles of my feet. I ran faster with the metal railing sliding down my palm. I kept going around the circle of the steps until I saw a metal door with warning signs on it. I threw open the door and felt the sun on my skin. I squinted as I held a hand up towards the sun. The asphalt was hot against my feet. Looking both ways in the parking lot, I started to sprint across towards the gate. Ducking under the bar, the security guard started to yell out at me. I could hear the alarm from the center ringing out. I ran harder than I ever had in the gym.
My bare feet hit the sidewalk so that each little pebble dug into my skin. People started to turn to watch me. I was still in
