"Hey."
"Hey." Madeline’s voice was weak, and i could barely hear her.
My feet stopped moving.
"What's wrong?"
There was a pause.
"I know we talked and said we loved each other, but," her voice cracked. "we can't ever talk again."
My face scrunched. "what do you mean we can't speak again?"
"Truth is, I don't want to start a relationship. There's already a big fuss around me, and I don't want to drag you further into my world. I don't want to see you anymore, and I moved back into the office. Bye, sawyer."
The phone clicked. I tried to call Madeline again, but it went straight to voicemail. I frantically called my dad.
"What the fuck did you do?" the second my dad answered as eyes turned around the campus to look at me, I yelled into the phone.
"What the hell are you blaming me for now?"
My fingers curled around the phone. I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"I just got a phone call from Madeline. She said she moved out and never wants to speak to me again."
"That was her choice. I didn't do anything but drive her over there."
"Bullshit."
"Believe me or not, that's on you, but at least she's where she belongs."
He hung up, and I resisted throwing my phone against the street.
Over two years had gone by since that phone call, and I had seen Madeline that Thanksgiving. I tried calling Madeline back several times after that, but my calls never went through to her. She never responded to my emails. Ricky drove by the house for me when he was home and said he didn't see anything unusual outside and never saw her outside. Justin said he never saw her on campus again. When I went home for Christmas, all her stuff was gone except for the furniture. I couldn't get into the center to see Madeline, so I ended up going back to school early to work. The message was loud and clear. She didn't want me in her life. Just like my mom, Madeline wanted out.
"I don't think you're studying." Lacey's voice was light.
Turning my head slightly, I looked at her from behind my sunglasses. One corner of my lips curled.
"I studied earlier for my last final. I'm only here to keep my beautiful girl company in this gorgeous weather."
She giggled. "I see that. Are you ready to go eat?"
"Sure."
I got up, pecked Lacey on the lips then took her hand in mine. We headed towards my car. We got in, and I started to head towards the apartment that I shared with Jacob.
"I'm feeling like Chinese food. How about you?"
"You know you don't have to twist my arm for some fried rice."
She laughed. We got to my apartment with her fingers interlaced in mine. As we walked up the stairs, she was on the phone ordering some food to be delivered. Getting my key out, I opened the door to our two-bedroom apartment. The couch was grey, and the coffee table had a large scratch on it from a terrible poker game with the guys. The table had three chairs, and we got the set online from a guy who met us in a parking lot. Lacey came in and placed her bag by the front door. Before I could say anything, my phone rang. It was Justin.
"Dude, I went back and forth on whether I should tell you or not but turn on the TV."
"You're going to have to be more specific because remember I'm in another state. I have different channels. Is it essential I have Lacey over?"
"Pick a news channel. They're all playing this conference."
I walked over to the TV and glanced around for the remote. I started to pat around the couch cushions until I found it. I flipped around until I found a channel with my dad sitting with a girl at a table together. The girl's braid draped over her shoulder and chest. Her pale cheeks were slightly sunken in. She was wearing make-up, but I could see those dark circles still shining through her pale skin. My stomach dropped as I collapsed onto the couch. I slumped over slightly as I sat there staring at the TV.
"What's wrong?" Lacey's voice came from the side.
"Is that Madeline?" Justin asked.
"Yeah." My voice was barely over a whisper, and I wasn't even sure that I was blinking.
"What's wrong with her?" Justin continued.
With Adam, Madeline hadn't been in the news as much. There have been live videos of Adam walking and babbling posted here and there. I didn't watch my dad's conferences, and I hadn't been home since that Christmas two years ago. My dad barely changed, maybe a few more grey strands and a few other lines on the corners of his eyes. Those lines weren't caused by laughter. I knew that much.
"Is that your dad?" Lacey questioned softly.
I nodded my head.
"Is he starving her? I thought you said she wanted to go back to the center." Justin snapped. "She does not look well at all."
"How about I step outside and wait for the Chinese food to give you some privacy."
Lacey stood up, and I mouthed, 'thank you to her. The door closed shortly afterward.
"Dude, I swear she didn't look like that last time I saw her. She looks a little older, but she looks like she hasn't slept in the past two years."
"Have you tried talking to her recently?" Justine continued.
My head fell back, and I closed my eyes.
"No, she has never had a phone, the center never put me through to her, and my dad is him, so not helpful. He insists that she wanted this."
"Thank you
