Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Abortion?

Jewel was still stirring up trouble.

But if she wanted to make a mess of things, that was her choice. I didn't have the energy to concern myself with anyone else's problems.

"Let her be," I said to Lisa.

"Huh? Is there no saintly act this time?"

Even Lisa was teasing me, showing how much I used to meddle in other people's affairs.

I let out a sarcastic scoff and replied, "The saint's gone dark."

"Ha! Love you for that." Lisa laughed, clearly amused.

After she hung up, I headed to the Demolition Permits Office to finalize the paperwork. The clerk gave me a notice and told me I had three days to pack up and move out.

I braced myself when I first saw the demolition notice and started packing. But now, with a deadline, it hit me that my home was truly about to be torn down.

Asl returned to my neighborhood, I stood outside my block for a long time and didn't go up. The usual neighbors I often saw were nowhere in sight-they'd probably already moved out.

I was so lost in thought that I didn't even notice when Brandon appeared beside me. It wasn't until I felt too tired to stand and decided to go upstairs that I realized he was there. "Hungry?" Brandon asked as he looked at me.

into anything else, just checking in with

slightly,

moment, I felt

"Tired?"

always good at

I nodded in response.

opened his mouth to speak. Before he said something, I lifted my feet and started walking upstairs. He

the stairs, he didn't say anything more. We just

hand to him. But he didn't hand me my bag right away; instead, he looked at

he understood what I wanted, but he was

my hand

just finished closing out my parents' records. I'm tired. I want to

deepened

least have something

have the appetite," I said, reaching out

for a moment and then handed me

the lights off. stood in the dim glow of the setting sun filtering through the windows, taking in the familiar sight

I had first come here, I had

changed. Even though had been living there for three months, everything was still the same as it had been. Even when Brandon had moved in, he had respected the previous owners and didn't change a

around at the familiar furniture, memories started

say, "Mae, come here. Check out this article. It's so well written. My mom would peek her head out of the kitchen with an