Back Home To You

Fifteen Years Later

MADISON

    Days had gone by since Morgan and Mom were gone, and it was hard for Dad to convince me to eat. The only person who would succeed at that was Oliver, and my father would call him every time to come home and make me try anything.  

   Since Morgan left, he decided to spend more time with me to cheer me up. We became the best of friends. It was also hard for him that Morgan left since he liked her a lot. We would chat about her and always wondered how she was doing. 

   There was no call since the day they arrived at their new city, when Mom had let us know they made it there. After that, she lost all communication with us, and we couldn’t even call them back as she would use a private phone. There was no way to contact them at all.

   I really missed my sister and I wish I could see her again.

   Oliver and I were getting ready for our first day of school. It would start in a few days and we needed to have everything needed for a successful year. 

    “Madison, are you paying attention?” Oliver’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I didn't realize I was gone for the world and he was talking to me. 

    “Sorry Oliver, what were you saying?” I asked, putting some notebooks inside my backpack. I turned around to face him, giving him a sheepish smile. 

    “I said that we should go to the stables and feed the horses. Maybe brush them as well?”

    “No, thank you. I’m pretty sure Dad took care of all that anyway. I don’t feel like doing anything right now. I think I’ll just take a nap, you might want to go home.” I didn’t mean to sound rude, but I just wanted to be alone. I just wasn't in the mood.

    "Okay, then. I will come back tomorrow to see how you’re doing, okay?" he asked and I nodded.

    He said good bye and went home before I went to my bed. Mom left us broken-hearted and I was sure Dad blames himself for that, but I try to assure him just like I did with Morgan when I had my accident that it was not his fault she left and never called us again. 

    “Hello, sweet pea. Ready for bed?” my dad said, coming into my room and tucking me in bed. When he was about to walk out, I stopped him. 

    “Hey Dad, can you tuck me in?” I asked him. 

    "Of course, little one. Anything for you." 

   He walked over, tucked me in and kissed my forehead. 

   “I miss Morgan and Mom,” I mentioned with tears in my eyes. 

   “Me too, sweetheart. But I’m sure we’ll see them again soon," he tried to console me.

~~~~~~

    Fifteen years had gone by and I still haven’t heard from Mom or Morgan. I guess they just decided to forget about us and live their lives.

   My parents decided to get a divorce and Mom never wanted to come back. I’m sure they were doing just fine. If only I could hear from them, at least just once. It felt really lonely without them here. 

   Dad and I were managing ourselves, and he has loved and taken care of me, but there was still something missing. 

   I sat in my wheelchair on the front porch, when I saw Mrs. Spencer’s truck coming in our driveway. It was Oliver and I was excited to see him. 

   He was coming to pick me up to go to town and pick up some hay for the horses. After parking in front of the house, he got out of the truck with a big smile on his face and headed my way. I was ready to keep my mind busy today and Oliver was the perfect person to help with that.

    Dad was out of town on a horse auction and he would be gone for a few days, so that left me in the house, by myself. Oliver didn’t want me to be alone all the time, so we spent as much time together as we could. 

   Before you get any ideas, Oliver and I are just friends. He’s hopeful that he will see Morgan again. He always liked her and he was confident that he would marry her and have kids when they grew up.

   After he helped me get in the truck, we drove off to town. 

   "How are you feeling today?" he asked, looking at me briefly before paying attention to the road again.

   "I’m doing good. Thank you for inviting me to go with you to town," I replied, looking out the window and feeling the breeze on my face.

   "Anytime. I don't want you to stay there by yourself all day. You needed some distraction," he said, making me nod in agreement. I was content and enjoying the ride. It felt freeing and peaceful.

   We arrived at the farming store and as soon as we went in, my eyes fell on the boy at the aisle. He was stocking gardening items and he looked so adorable doing it.

   I was always glad to see him as we used to have classes together in school. Since we were kids I always had a crush on him.

    “Hey, Jeff!” Oliver pulled me out of my thoughts when he called him. I shook my head and smiled at his approaching figure.

    “Hi Oliver,” he greeted him before his eyes fell on me, “Hi Madison, how are you today?”

     I blushed, my ears felt hot at the intense gaze he gave me. He noticed and smiled from ear to ear, making me feel embarrassed. 

   He kneeled down to be on my eye level and said, “No need to blush, sweetheart. Although you look cute when you do.”

   That made me blush even more and Oliver decided to wheel me away from him, but not without laughing at me. 

   “I think he likes you, and you look like you like him as well,” he teased me.

   “Like him? What makes you say that?” I feigned ignorance at the situation.

   “I could tell, the way you two look at each other, and the way you blushed at his words,” he replied with a wide smile on his face. 

   I smacked him on his arm playfully, and he laughed again. With Morgan being gone, he was the closest to a sibling I’ve had, which made me happy and sad at the same time. It made me miss her even more. 

    I hoped that wherever she was, she was just as happy as I was. And I hope she was thinking of me and our Dad.