Back Home To You

Promise

MORGAN

    I sat in the waiting room with my parents. We were anxiously waiting for the doctor to come out of those doors with news about my sister. She had to go under an emergency surgery since according to them, her spinal column dislocated when she fell. 

   They explained that they had to pop it back in place, which scared me even more. I was worried about her, but tried not to cry. Madison needed me to be strong for her.

    Dad paced back and forth while mom sat next to me, trying to comfort me as best as she could. It didn’t work as I finally let my tears out, crying on her chest.

   It was my fault that she was in that room. I made her join us on the ride. If I knew the cattle would get spooked and her horse would knock her down, I wouldn’t have insisted or gotten upset at her.

    The doctor came over to us, with a sad expression on his face. My dad went to him, eager to know how my sister was doing.

   “Frank, how’s my little girl?” he asked him, treating him on a personal level. Being in a small town, everyone knew everyone. 

    He put a hand on his shoulder and looked at him with a sad smile.

   “I have to be honest with you, Harold. Odds were not in Madison’s favor. The damage to her column was pretty bad. She fell in a way that could have easily damaged important parts of it.”

    My parents started to cry on each other’s shoulders and begged to see her. I couldn’t go, so I decided to stay and wait for them out here. 

   They took forever to see her, and I was growing anxious. After they finally came out of the room, we went home and I ran straight to my room, feeling ashamed of myself and not daring to face them. 

   I slumped on my bed and cried a little more, apologizing to my sister in my mind for everything. A few minutes later, Mom went to my room to wish me good night, but when I asked for Dad, she said he had to go out to get some fresh air. 

   I knew this was affecting all of us, especially him. We were his princesses and anything that hurt us, hurt him more.

~~~~~~ 

   A few days had passed and we were finally able to pick Madison up from the hospital. They gave her a wheelchair since she was paralyzed due to the accident.

   I waited outside by the car and when Mom and Dad came out of the hospital and helped her in, I stared at her legs, quickly looking away as more tears threatened to fall. Tears she didn’t fail to notice.

   “Hey, I’m okay. Everything will work out, Morgan,” she said, trying to reassure me. 

   Of course, she couldn’t help it, always wanting to have a positive attitude to everything. We were kids. We were supposed to be able to have fun, play, run around, climb trees and be silly. Not stuck on a wheelchair like she is now, and all because of my stupidity. 

   The ride home was silent. No one dared to say a word. Especially not me. 

   I thanked the heavens we finally made it home. But I regretted it instantly when I saw half of the town there to receive Madison. They showed their support as she smiled and greeted everyone. 

   I stood behind, bitterness taking over me. I decided to go to the stables instead and play my fiddle to the horses. After a while, my peace and silence were over when I heard the sounds of the wheelchair coming my way. 

   “Morgan, what’s wrong? You’re missing the party,” Madison said, a smile plastered on her face. She tried so hard to make this all seem like it was a normal day.

   “I’m not in the mood. I just wanted to come here and think,” I replied, looking at my fiddle instead of her. 

   “If this is about what happened to me, I already told you. It’s okay, it’s not your fault. I decided to go thinking it would be fun. Like you say, I’m always stuck on my books. I wanted to make you happy, you’re my sister,” she said, trying to make me feel better.

   I looked at her, feeling angry.

   “Are you telling me not to blame myself? I insisted that you should go with us knowing fully well you didn’t want to! It’s my fault you’re in that stupid wheelchair!” I yelled before running to the house and into my room, closing the door behind me and falling on my bed to cry again.

   Later that night, when I felt better, I went to Madison’s room. She was moved to a spare room on the first floor since it would be hard to be carrying her up and down the stairs. 

  She laid in bed with a book. Mom and Dad had already told us our good nights. I climbed in her bed and got under the covers as we looked at each other’s eyes.

   “I’m sorry, I was scared and angry, You’re my little sister and I was supposed to protect you. I love you so much and it hurt to see you like that.” My voice was breaking.

   “You’re only a few minutes older. And like I said, it was not your fault. Accidents happen,” she smiled.

   We cuddled and started to fall asleep when all of a sudden, we heard a crashing sound. I got off the bed and opened the door, walked over behind a wall and heard Mom and Dad argue again. 

   “What’s going on with you?” Mom yelled. Dad was drunk. It was the first time I have seen him like that.

   “It’s all my fault our daughter is stuck in a wheelchair for God knows how long, and our other daughter blames herself!” Dad yelled back. After a few minutes, they calmed down and he sat down, his hands on his head as he sobbed, only for my mom to hug him, joining him in his tears.

   “I think it’s better if we just get separated. We might be better that way,” she suggested. I felt pain in my chest, I wanted to cry hoping that Dad wouldn’t agree, but much to my dismay, he did. 

   How could they? Right now is when they need each other the most. It’s when we need them the most.

   I ran to my sister’s room and hid under the blanket. She looked at me confused, pulling it back to see my face.

   “What happened?” she asked, concerned. I didn’t want to talk, I just wanted to forget what I heard. 

~~~~~~

MADISON

    As I was reading a good book about dragons, I saw my sister run to my room, crying. I wanted to know what happened, but she wouldn’t tell me. After a few minutes, I finally managed to convince her.

    “Mom and Dad are getting separated,” she mumbled, but I heard it. I was shocked, but tried to be positive about it.

   “Maybe they’re just saying that because they’re angry at each other. It doesn’t mean they’re separating or getting a divorce,” I tried to reassure her.

   “Madison, wake up. It’s been weeks since they have started arguing, and your accident made it worse,” she sighed, “I think this was the last straw, they won’t stay together.”

   “Well, promise me one thing. No matter what happens, we will stay together,” I replied. She nodded, giving me a big smile and cuddling against me. 

   “I promise.”