When The World Fails You

When The World Fails You Part 16

“Madison…what do you mean, was?” I stare at her.

She looks at me then bows her head into her hands. “They fired her to punish me.”

Mom looks at me, confused. I slip on the other sock and touch her legs. “Madison look at me.”

She shakes her head. “I think I’m going to puke.”

“Trashcan!!!” Mom yells, getting up.

They set a trashcan near her and she pukes up red shit. I hold her hair back and tell everyone to leave. Mom stays behind until I ask her for a moment alone.

“You have a lot of explaining to do Ray.” She said before she took off.

Madison is still puking by the time everyone’s gone.

Its not her finest moment, I wont lie.

“It tasted better than it smells.” She mutters into the trashcan.

I smile. “I’m sure it did.”

She wipes her mouth and looks at me. “Why don’t you love me?”

“Madison right now isn’t the time for that-”

“It’s the perfect time,” She interrupts. “That way I don’t have to remember it in the morning if your reasons hurt.”

I shook my head. “Not right now.”

I move her hair away and tuck it behind her ear. Her eyes are red and swollen, her face pale from the throw up session. I take off my shirt and wipe her eyes without even thinking about it.

“Your shirt smells good.” She compliments it.

“You like the smell of sweat?” I smile.

“I like the smell of you.” She confesses. “It smells amazing.”

My smile fades and I clean some vomit off her blouse. “I’m going to find you a shirt to change into. Just wait right here and I’ll have my mom help you.”

“I can do it.” She says quickly. “Where’s your room?”

I take her to my room and she leans against the wall while I find her a shirt. I look for a clean one in my drawer for both me and her. My back is turned to her when the light to my room turns off and the door closes. I turn around and she’s already against me.

“Madison what the hell-”

“Just…wait…” She leans her head against my chest and holds still. She doesn’t try to kiss me or take off my pants. She just leans against me and puts her arms around my waist. Her breathing is deep but shaky. Her shirt was off and it didn’t help my thoughts from scattering.

“Madison…” My voice is low. “My mom will kill you if she walks in.”

“Shhhh.” She grips tighter.

It takes a second until I put my hands on her shoulders. I feel her skin, her bones hitting them and creating patterns underneath her movements. She’s still as soft as she’s always been. My hands trace behind her, past her bra strap to the middle of her back. I grip her hold and pull her as close as she can get.

We stay like that for awhile. Time doesn’t fly by. It doesn’t stop either. It lingers around us at a steady speed. I rest my chin on top of her head.

“I’m sorry about Maria.”

“It wasn’t worth it,” She whispers, shuddering at my apology. “Doing everything I did. None of it was worth it if she’s gone.”