Chapter One
Megan and I have been doing our talks for ten years now. I say Megan and I, but we’ve actually recruited Lilly, the girl I was mentoring to help us after she’d left school. She’s really grown in confidence, and I know we have our talks to thank for that.
And best of all, there’s no more looking over my shoulder to see if Mark is coming to get me. He’s still in prison, as is his girlfriend. They won’t be released any time soon.
Today the three of us are doing a talk at a secondary school. As usual, we have various youngsters come up to us to tell us that the talk has changed their lives. It’s hard to believe sometimes, but I know our talks are important.
Suddenly I hear my phone ringing in my handbag. It’s my boyfriend, Dan. We’ve been together for about ten years also and we’ve been going through a rough patch as of late.
Megan, Lilly and I go round the back of the school and get in the car. Dan hasn’t said a word to me since this morning. I hope he’s okay.
“How was the talk?”
Finally, some words!
“Really good. We’re changing lives over here,” I say.
“Hmm,” Dan mumbles.
I put my hand on his leg, but he moves it away.
Dan drops Megan outside her house. Megan’s boyfriend, Ben, is waiting for us. Megan runs up to Ben and flings her arms around him. I feel a pang of jealousy. I wish my relationship was as perfect as theirs was.
Then we drop Lilly home. Lilly was grateful for the job offer; she was a bit scared about going to Uni because of her autism. She said she’d rather work with us because at least she knows what secondary schools are like. More predictability. I can definitely relate to that.
Once Lilly is dropped off, there’s an awkward silence between me and Dan. How do I make this situation better? I’m no good at small talk.
I decide to be upfront with him. “What’s up?”
“I just feel like we haven’t spent as much time together lately as we could have.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been really busy with the talks, and-”
“It’s all about you and your talks, isn’t it?” Dan snaps.
“I thought you supported me and Megan doing the talks?” I ask.
“I do, it’s just I haven’t seen you.”
“I’m sorry, Dan. Look, I’ve got some holiday coming up, maybe we can spend some time together then?”
“I don’t think this is going to work, Anna.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I need a break. Maybe you should go to your mum’s for a bit.”
My heart sinks. Dan doesn’t love me any more, and it’s all my fault. If I hadn’t been so busy with the talks I’d have more time for him. Tears spring to my eyes. I blink them back, trying to make sense of the situation.
“Do you want me to drop you at your mum’s?”
I sigh. “Do I have a choice?”
So we head home, and I quickly pack an overnight bag, tears still streaming, and then Dan takes me to my mum’s house.
Mum opens the door, and she seems happy to see me. “Anna! What a surprise.” She wraps me in a hug. It’s good to see Mum happy. She’s been very depressed recently, since Ray passed away. She’s had to give up work with Rainbow Balloons. The business has regrettably shut down.
I wrap my arms around Mum. “It’s good to see you too. I need to talk to you.”
Mum looks in my eyes. “Have you been crying?”
I nod. “Dan effectively threw me out. That’s why I have these clothes with me.”
Mum hugs me once more. “Not again.”
“But this is nothing like it was with Mark. Dan’s completely different to Mark.”
“But he threw you out.”
“Why are we still on the front porch?” I say, laughing slightly.
“Let’s go inside and I’ll make us a cup of tea,” Mum says.
