Chapter 55

Maeve's POV

"I'M BACK" Ava yelled as she walked through the door. "AND I BROUGHT PIZZA FOR DINNER!"

"Did she say pizza?" Sean jumped up while throwing his deck of cards at me. We were currently in the middle of playing a game at the floor in the living room but I guess I got ditched for pizza.

As I followed the noise into the kitchen, I sat down, a piece of pizza was already placed on a plate for me.

"How was your visit?" Sean asked Ava who took a quick glance at me before debating wether she should answer or not but instead she widened her eyes at me.

"YOU LET HER GET A TATTOO?" Ava jumped off her seat, immediately hitting Sean.

"HEY HEY! She's an adult, why is it my fault?" Sean tried protecting himself with his hands up in defense.

"She's mentally unstable, how could you let her do this?!"

She looked at me, her expression softened immediately "no offense, Mae" before looking back at Sean "but how could you?" She hit him one last time.

She was probably right about the part of me not being mentally stable but this tattoo was a decision made by my heart. It chose me and for the rest of my life I will wear it with pride.

"I need vodka" Ava got up and walked out the kitchen as wondered where they were hiding the good stuff.

*****

"I don't think I am able to choose! There are so many beautiful women out there but since you're making me choose, I am picking Janet Jackson! She's absolutely stunning!"

I nodded agreeing to Sean's choice when Ava turned to me. "Who's your celebrity crush, Mae?"

With the glass of vodka in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other one, I knew there was only one right answer. "I'm also sticking with the Jackson family, I'm taking Michael!"

"Good choice" Sean raised his glass at my words, I did as well and we both drank. I felt the alcohol beverage run down my throat, this drink really was needed.

"Really Mae? You're a Michael girl?" Ava raised an eyebrow at me with an unlit cigarette in her hand.

"Totally" I said as I pulled out my necklace with 'Michael' written on it.

"I thought that's your husband's name?" Sean asked.

"That too" I laughed drunkenly before taking another sip of the vodka lemon in my hand.

"Oh my god, she's mentally unstable and probably thinks she's married to Michael fucking Jackson" Ava joked as she and Sean started laughing while I blushed lightly.

"OH LOOK! Her cheeks are turning red, she really has a crush on Michael!" Sean pointed out as they laughed even harder.

Letting myself fall backwards, where luckily a cushion was laying as I buried my face in the crook of my right elbow.

"Isn't he bizarre? Like I've heard he sleeps in an oxygen chamber and he has a shrine of Elisabeth Taylor at his house... and then this whole story with his family, it seems so made up!" I heard Ava's voice as they finally stopped laughing at me but this time I couldn't help but start laughing hysterically because I knew about all these rumors and I've always wondered who believes that shit.

"Mae, what are you laughing at?" Ava's voice sounded innocent, she really had no idea.

"YOU!" I sat up again with tears in my eyes from all the laughing. "Please leave my husband alone!"

Both Ava and Sean joined me in laughing but what they didn't know was that I was actually being serious.

*****

Another week full of early mornings and hard work went by as we entered the apartment on my day off where I let myself fall onto the couch while Ava got ready for leaving like she always does on her day off.

"Are you coming, Mae?" She called for me as I looked at her confused.

"I'm a child of divorce, it's daddy's weekend" I joked, pretending she and Sean are my parents and have split custody.

Ava giggled as she shook her head. "It's a family trip!" she told me and I was starting to get excited since I've wondered for a while now, why she never mentioned her sister.

The drive took us longer than expected since I didn't know we needed to leave town to get to her sister. When we arrived I was confused. It looked similar to a hospital, Sean notice my confusion and as we walked inside, a few feet behind Ava, he whispered to me "it's a home for people with disabilities".

We walked the busy halls, following Ava's lead. The circumstances here were disgusting in my opinion there were way too many patients and not enough personnel but I guess that's a problem in most of these facilities.

"We're taking Emily for a walk" Ava let a nurse know as we passed her and we soon stood in a complete white room with one bed in the middle, a closet and a table with a chair. That's all. No pictures, no color.

I felt my depression come back as I entered the room.

"Em" Ava walked over to the window where a young girl was strapped to a wheelchair.

The sight of a wheelchair made me emotional but this one was different. It was made for people that couldn't control their body anymore.

Emily wasn't able to sit on her own, she couldn't even hold her head on her own. She got all excited, I could tell by the way she wiggled her arms and the sounds she was making when Ava came near her, kissing her cheeks.

"Em, I missed you so much, how are you" Ava spoke but she knew she wasn't going to get an answer.

Sean walked past me pinching Emily lightly in the arm, getting her attention. "Hey Em! Haven't seen you in a while! You're looking good today!"

A tear rolled down my cheek but I was quick to wipe it away. It was now that I realized how much pressure really was on Ava. I always wondered why she needed to work that much and as I remembered she once told me about a difficult family situation, that means she probably has to come up with the money to help her sister all on her own.

"Hello Emily, I am Mae, a friend of Ava and Sean. It's a pleasure to meet you!" I told her as I placed my hand on top of hers and I felt her squeeze my hand lightly.

Emily was just as beautiful as Ava, dark hair, pale skin, green eyes. Emily is the younger one, I can tell.

"Let's go" Ava grabbed A bag with all of Emily's essentials as Sean started to push Emily's wheelchair with me walking next to her, still holding her hand.

We walked a short distance until we reached a river where Sean parked Emily next to a bench.

"Ava, do you mind me asking-"

"Irreparable brain damage caused by an accident when she was 12." She told me and I could tell this was a very sensitive topic for her.

I put my hand on top of hers and squeezed it lightly when I noticed the tears in her eyes were escaping.

"It was my step father's fault. He was drunk while driving" she spoke as tears started to form in her eyes, she leaned against my shoulder. "She begged me to allow her to live with me but I was so young and I was happy I finally got out of there... I didn't want to care for a child... and then she had the accident and they wanted her to die in that hospital bed but I couldn't let her go. Now, I am drowning in bills and all I can offer her is to stop by once a week..."

Her words made me sad, not only because Ava really cared about her little sister but also because Emily seemed to be so excited about Ava spending the day with her.

"I'm sorry you have to carry this load on your own" I comforted her by stroking her back softly.

*****

"Open your mouth" I said as I held the spoon full of some fruit purée to Emily's mouth while Ava and Sean were down by the water, dipping their feet inside, cooling down on this beautiful, warm day.

"I never knew how lucky I was. You know, I've also been in an accident, years ago, I made it out and like you, I have people that care for me, that love me, even a little disabled.Ava really does everything she can to care for you, but I promise you, I'll help her, so she can have more time to spend with you. Emily, I promise you a better life!"