CHAPTER FOUR – RISING OUT OF DEPRESSION

The blinds stayed closed in Madison's apartment. Dust danced in the stale air around empty coffee cups and crumpled tissues. A forgotten pizza box sat on the coffee table, the old contents eaten in an late-night binge. It had been one month since her world exploded. One month since the scandal, the twisted story, and the fight that left her raw and exposed. Her once-buzzing phone now sat in lonely silence. Unanswered calls, an overflowing inbox of ignored messages. She had blocked Veronica, Constance, Johnny. Their voices, their accusations, reminded her of the betrayal. Each missed call chipped away at the fragile shield around her broken heart. Days and nights blurred together in an endless cycle of sleep and tears. The huge king-size bed, once a symbol of success, now felt like a prison - its vast emptiness amplifying her loneliness. When sleep came, it was restless, filled with short dreams and cold sweat awakenings. Her huge walk-in closet went untouched. Designer dresses for red carpets hung limply. Her reflection in the mirror startled her - sunken red-rimmed eyes, tangled hair framing a pale, gaunt face. The apartment's silence was deafening. The city's blaring outside noise seemed worlds away. The silence broken only by the occasional raw, primal sob escaping her lips - a lament for her stolen future, her love turned to dust. The pantry showed her declining state - half-eaten cereal, curdled milk, one wilting apple her only options. Hunger gnawed at her, an ache she barely registered. The bathroom, once her favourite place to relax, wore a film of neglect. Expensive emptied creams mocked her from the counter while dust coated the vents. Her reflection triggered self-loathing. This wasn't the strong, ambitious woman she was. But the energy to fight the despair was gone. Simple tasks like showering felt very difficult. The endless grey days stretched before her, joyless and without purpose. One afternoon, frantic pounding on the door jolted Madison from fitful sleep. The shrill sound sparked fear, adrenaline briefly breaking through the fog of depression. Shaky and weak, she dragged herself to the door. "Madison! Open up! It's Bella!" A panicked voice echoed through the door. Bella's urgent tone cut through Madison's foggy mind. A bit curious, she cautiously unlocked the door, leaving the chain secured for safety. When she opened the door, Bella's face showed both relief and worry. Her blonde hair, perfectly styled, looked so different from Madison's messy locks, and her fancy outfit stood out in the dim room. "Oh, Madison!" Bella exclaimed with a mix of relief and shock. She pushed past the door chain, her eyes scanning the messy apartment. Madison winced, the bright hallway light making her squint. "Bella?" she managed to say, her voice weak. "What happened?" Bella rushed in, her heels clacking on the floor. "We've been trying to reach you everywhere! Your messages…" She stopped, noticing the full inbox on the coffee table. Madison felt ashamed. "I…" She started, but the words got stuck. How could she explain her emotions? "Is it because of the news reports?" Bella asked softly, her voice full of concern. "We all know they were lies." Madison nodded silently. Even knowing they were false, it still hurt so much. "But hiding like this won't help," Bella insisted, looking worried. Madison sank onto the couch, feeling tears well up. "What's the use?" she murmured. "Everything's gone." Bella sat beside her, her touch comforting. "It's not all gone," she said firmly. "This doesn't define you." "It feels like it," Madison replied, forcing a weak laugh. "You've overcome challenges before," Bella reminded her gently. "You're strong." Madison remembered the struggles she faced before her big break. But this felt different; it was betrayal from people she trusted. Feeling her despair, Bella squeezed her hand. "You need to talk to someone, anyone. You can't stay hidden." "I don't know," Madison admitted quietly. "Let's start small," Bella suggested. "A shower? Some food? You look like you haven't eaten." Madison's stomach growled in agreement. A shower sounded refreshing, and the idea of real food was appealing. "Okay," she agreed, feeling a bit hopeful. Bella smiled. "That's the spirit! Let's clean up first, then we'll figure out what to do." As Madison stepped out of the shower, wrapped in a soft towel, she felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this wasn't the end after all. Perhaps it was a chance to start anew, stronger than before. Bella hurried Madison out of the apartment, the sunny weather a sharp contrast to Madison's inner gloom. Pop music filled the car as Bella talked non-stop, breaking the silence that had enveloped Madison. "Where do you want to eat?" Bella asked as they reached a busy intersection. Madison thought for a moment. The idea of a fancy restaurant made her uneasy. "Something casual," she muttered. "Maybe… something greasy." Bella raised an eyebrow. "Greasy?" Madison managed a weak smile. "Yeah, that sounds good right now." Bella's face lit up. "Great! There's this amazing taco stand nearby. Best tacos in the city." The taco stand was vibrant and lively, with the aroma of sizzling meat and chopping vegetables filling the air. Despite the long line, Bella was undeterred. "The wait will be worth it," she assured Madison, pulling her into the queue. As they waited, Madison felt self-conscious being out in public. She expected judgmental stares, but most people were too busy enjoying their food or chatting with friends. Suddenly, a commotion broke out nearby. A woman struggling with a baby accidentally launched a box of takeout, showering sprinkles over a nearby man. Instead of getting angry, he laughed along with everyone else, joining in the fun. Madison couldn't help but smile. Maybe facing the world wasn't so daunting after all. There was humor and kindness everywhere, even in unexpected moments like this. When they reached the front of the line, Bella ordered confidently, her excitement contagious. As they received their plates of tacos, Bella winked at Madison. "See? Not so bad, right?" Madison shook her head, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "No, not bad at all. Actually, it's pretty good." As Madison finished her tacos, Bella dropped a bombshell. "So, guess what?" she chirped, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Madison braced herself, her nerves tingling. "What?" "There's this huge gala next week for the opening of the new art museum. All the big names will be there. It'd be the perfect opportunity for you to make a public reappearance." Madison's stomach lurched. Public reappearance? The mere thought sent a wave of anxiety crashing over her. Images of flashing cameras, snide whispers, and Veronica's smug face filled her mind. "Bella, I don't know," she stammered, pushing the teacup away untouched. "I'm not sure I'm ready for all that." Bella saw the flicker of fear in her friend's eyes. "Look," she said, her voice softening. "I completely understand if you're not comfortable. But you can't hide forever, right? And besides, it's not like you're going to be alone." Madison raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?" Bella grinned. "Me, silly! I'll be your date. We can make an entrance, show everyone you're back and stronger than ever. And hey, if anyone even thinks about starting anything, I'll handle them." A wave of gratitude washed over Madison. Bella's unwavering support was a beacon in the storm. The idea of facing the spotlight with her best friend by her side, someone who truly knew her and believed in her, was strangely comforting. "You'd really do that?" she asked, a flicker of hope rekindled in her eyes. "Absolutely!" Bella declared, her voice brimming with confidence. "Think of it as a power move. Plus, there'll be amazing food, free champagne, and maybe even a celebrity sighting or two. You can't resist that, can you?" Madison couldn't help but smile. The thought of a night out, with Bella by her side, surrounded by art and laughter, was starting to sound appealing. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to step back into the world, not as the victim, but as Madison Miller, actress, survivor, and most importantly, Bella's best friend. "Alright," she conceded, a newfound determination in her voice. "Let's do this."