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.

didn't pry into anything else, just checking in with a simple

slightly,

moment, I felt

"Tired?"

was always good at

I nodded in response.

Before he said something, I lifted my feet and started walking upstairs. He

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

the top, I held out my hand to him. But he didn't hand me my bag right away; instead, he looked at

understood what I wanted, but he was

my hand and

parents' records. I'm tired. I want to be alone

gaze deepened with

have something to eat

the appetite," I said, reaching out

hesitated for a moment and then handed me

into the house. I leaned against the door once inside, keeping the lights off. stood in the dim glow of

when I had first come here, I had done the same thing-just stood

house 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

looked around at the familiar furniture, memories started

newspaper. When he heard me, he would look up and say, "Mae, come here. Check out this article. It's so well written. My mom would peek her