Fragile Bones

Chapter Five

I cut my mom off in the middle of her sentence. "No, I'm going out for a bit," I muttered, not looking her in the face. I didn't really care that I was acting rude at the moment.

"Where are you going? It's pretty cold out today, you might want something heavier than just a sweatshirt," my dad added, much to my annoyance.

"I'm fine," I snapped, and opened the front door and ran out into the chilly weather. I started walking down my street, headed to an unknown place. I didn't really care where I was going, I just knew I had to get out of my house. I couldn't stand the fighting that's getting more and more regular. I pulled out my phone and my earbuds, putting them in my ear and scrolling through my music to find something I wanted to listen to.

I gave up trying to find something I wanted to hear and just clicked shuffle, letting fate decide my music for me. Immediately, Mad World by Tears for Fears came on. How freaking ironic.

I wondered why this song gained so much attention; I guarantee almost everyone knows at least the chorus to it. I mean, it was a terribly sad song and there couldn't be that many people who related to it. I started humming along, not realizing I was doing so.

And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad,
The dreams in which bin dying are the best I've ever had,
I find hard to tell you cause I find it hard to take,
When people run in circles it's a very very,
Mad world.

I kept walking, listening to various songs for what seemed like hours until I arrived at a park, one which is never seen before. I looked around to find it deserted, the only movement being a swing that was being pushed from the wind. I went and sat on a park bench, staring blankly at the park.

I envisioned it at summer time, little kids running around the park, waiting their turn to slide down the slide. Parents talking to one another as they pushed their kids on the swings, ignoring their demands to be pushed higher and higher. Kids digging in the sand box, some with overactive imaginations looking for some buried treasure. The scenery I had imagined went away from me in an instant as a chill from the wind went up my spine, and I was left looking at a desolate park once again.

I remember when my parents would take me to parks on occasion. I remember when they were happy just being with each other instead of fighting all of the time. My last happiest moment I could remember of all of us together with no fighting whatsoever was my eleventh birthday party.

I was walking home from school, for whatever reason, my mom said my dad and her couldn't pick me up. It was my birthday, I was finally eleven and they couldn't even be bothered to give me a ride home. I sighed and walked up the stairs to my front door, turned the knob and opened it to be met with darkness. All of the shades were down and all of the lights were off. I stepped inside the threshold and closed the door behind me, confusion never leaving my mind.

"Mom?" I called into the darkness. All of a sudden, a bunch of lights turned on and I was met with a bunch of faces staring under a 'Happy Birthday' banner.

"Surprise!" Everyone shouted and I laughed, not having expected a surprise party at all. A bunch of my relatives were there, along with a couple family friends. There was a table set up with presents and cake and I almost started crying on the spot. I walked up to to my mom and dad and jumped into their arms for a hug.

The rest of the day was filled with food, fun and games. This was the best birthday I could ever hope for, and I couldn't believe I had doubted them for even one second. They were literally the best parents ever, and I knew that we would always be a happy family.

I faintly smiled at the memory. After that party, everything started to go downhill. My parents started fighting, started not paying me as much attention as they used to, and now they were thinking about getting divorced. I wonder if it was my fault that they started fighting, I couldn't see any other reason. I knew that neither of them were cheating on one another, and I knew that it couldn't be their jobs or anything. As much as my mind wanted to deny it, the thought popped into my head.

Maybe they just grew apart from one another.

I stayed sitting on that park bench lost in my thoughts for I don't even know how long, but the change in the sky made me realize it was getting late. I glanced at my phone to see that the time was almost 5:00. I had been here almost all day! I got up from the bench and decided to make my way home, using the gps on my phone to get there.

It took me an hour of walking, but I was finally on my doorstep by 6:00, unfortunately in time for dinner. I heard a rumble behind me and turned to see a car pulling into the vacant house next to us. I watched as some guy walked up to the 'for sale' sign and slapped a big yellow sticker over it that said SOLD. I guess we'd be having new neighbors soon, and I couldn't help but wonder what they would be like.

I walked inside my house to the smell of soup, and my mom came out to the kitchen and stared at me. She looked like she was going to say something to me, but all she said was, "it's time for dinner," and walked back into the kitchen. I sighed deeply and wished desperately for a miracle that would bring my parents together again. I followed my mom into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

"So what are we having?"

•••
I have no idea why this seems like it would be the ending to this book, but whatever. This is a small filler that I wanted to put in to allow you all to glimpse into Madeline's life a little more. It's important to know the characters you're reading about.

Also, I promised this would be out at the end of the week, but because I'm so great it's out on freaking Tuesday instead. You're welcome (I'm mentally singing the Moana song).

I would like to add that I've eaten nothing but croutons all day and is that terrible? Because I want to say it is, but I'm still gonna eat more.

So what do you think will happen between Madeline's parents? Will they actually get a divorce?

Remember to vote and comment, it would mean a lot!

Emma x