Wreaked

Chapter 1

Walking through the blistering cold cobbled streets of Chester, keeping my head down low, I pulled the lapels of my jacket even closer around me to ward off the chilling December wind. I stood still for a few minutes watching the grey day turn to onyx night, it was how my time would normally pan out. Looking down at the brown cobbled street for somewhere warm to sleep, it started getting harder and harder each day, being told to leave whenever a police officer saw me. I sometimes huddle in doorways that smelt of urine. I planned to get there after the drunks had left the beautiful old city. My normal spot would be near River Island but recently someone else has been sleeping there, or I was hiding under the old stone bricked arch next to the cathedral, it was sheltered but the most uncomfortable place to sleep but it would have to do when I can't find somewhere else to sleep. When strolling around Chester, I would always admire the beautiful buildings and wonderful structures that make up this city, some are very modern and new but mostly there are historical ones which are stunningly beautiful. Sometimes I wish I had never left my phone behind, when I ran away from home, some of the views and sights would make beautiful pictures, especially the old clock on East gate street, it has to be one of my favourite places to visit when wandering around the streets.

Scurrying down the side streets of Chester, I noticed that the old building of St Joseph's Cathedral was open, looking around the now very quiet city centre, I quietly opened the black metal gate leading to the most beautiful grounds of the cathedral, taking a few minutes to admire my surroundings, in one of the corners there were a few well kept flower beds that had all sorts of winter flowers. I strolled over and had a look to see what was in the flower beds, all kinds of coloured primroses sat neatly together making the air smell fragrant. I wandered back to a solid oak door, and quietly slipped inside, noting that my surroundings felt warm and inviting. I looked around the vast space to see if I was alone. When I couldn't see anyone in sight, I took a few minutes to look up at the old stained glass window with all the pretty colours, in reds, green, yellow and blues that took my breath away, the pictures that they made up was outstanding, I couldn't keep my eyes off of them. I would sometimes come in here to have some time to myself away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. As luck would have it, there was no one sitting inside. As I walked into the cathedral, I noticed the smell of candles and flower sitting on the ends of the pews, looking up at the ceiling I could see very old stonework, that dates back years, as I made my way up to the back of the cathedral, I found some space behind a very large pew and hid out of sight hoping I wouldn't be caught.

A while later, I heard the creak of the hinges of the large wooden door being shut and the muffled click of the keys being turned to lock the door. Once the door was locked and I trusted that I was alone, I slowly pulled myself up off the cold hard floor which had left my bum numb, wiggling around to try and get my body moving again. I had no idea what time it was when I came through the doors, but from the feeling of my bum, it had been a while. I shrugged my overly large duffle bag onto my shoulder and started making my way down the aisle. Picking up a few candles on my way in search of somewhere to sleep without being noticed if someone came back into the cathedral. I soon realised that I had not been to the little girl's room for most of the day, noting that there was a dark red curtain hanging on the left side. I started walking to the side that I could see the curtain hanging down, making my way through I entered a little corridor with a few doors. Secretly hoping that one of these rooms was unlocked and had a bathroom as I was starting to get desperate for the ladies room. I tried all the doors but only one opened at the far end, slowly opening the door praying that nobody was in the room, to my luck there wasn't anyone sitting there. Pushing the rather heavy door open I walked in, taking all that was around me in, I came across another door which lead to a sparklingly clean bathroom. Once I had finished, I went in search of some food, feeling bad that I was looking through someone else's draws I quickly closed them and left the room.

On my way back down the corridor, I noticed a staircase, wondering where it lead too, I made my way up the very large rickety wooden staircase, with every step I was worried I’d fall through, once I had made it safely to the top, I found a very large open room, it look like it was a storage room with what looked like old pews. Thinking to myself this room would be perfect for the night. Looking around the room I found some old looking blankets, that had been stored in the far corner, I thought to myself that they would be perfect to sleep on, placing them down on the floor before pulling out my sleeping bag and laying it out on top of the blankets. By the time I had realised, it was dark outside there were only slivers of light coming through from the street lamps from the few windows that were in the room. Pulling out my only source of light was a few candles that I had picked up, I rummaged around in the bottom of my bag for a box of matches that I had. Lighting the candles and spreading them around me at a safe distance. I snuggled down onto my very worn out sleeping bag. When I had first got my sleeping bag it was when I was at home, it was the only thing I packed to keep me warm apart from the jacket I was wearing. Pulling my sleeping bag up around my neck, I shivered welcoming the wanted warmth that it normally would bring me. I had hoped to have a good night sleep, but it was hard with the cold chill in the air.

As I lay there, my mind started to have an unwelcoming flashbacks to a memory of home. My mind was racing thinking of the people I had left behind, my mother, stepfather and my older sister. My heart started racing with the unwanted vision , I had to find something that would take my mind from going back there. The only thing that would do that was my most valuable possession that I had owned, other than my clothes on my back and my sleeping bag I packed my favourite book. From The Shadows, reading was all that I can do, I had only had to read this book once for it to be my favourite. I started to take it everywhere I went, when I had a feeling I was down or low I would pull it out and read it. The words I read had such meaning for me, I carefully unsealed the plastic bag that my book was kept in. Every time I see the cover it always makes me smile, even with my current situation it always brings a smile on my face.

Finding where I had left off the last time I was able to read, I hardly ever read it outside, just in case it rained. I pulled out my bookmark carefully not to tear any pages. I can remember this book cover to cover. Snuggling down in my sleeping bag, I let the book take my mind to places that it can do normally. Before I knew it I was woken up with a start, slowly opening my eyes to adjust to what little light was coming through the windows. All I can hear was the muffled sound of the street, of cars and pedestrians walking by on their way to work. I quickly undo my sleeping bag and climbed up off the floor I stood and stretched, I had slept better than I thought I would on the floor. At some point in the night, the candles had gone out, I don't even remember falling asleep. Quietly as I can, I put my book back in its plastic bag and wrapped it up with my sleeping bag I managed to get it back in my duffle bag without a problem. Making sure that I tidied up where I had slept.I went and placed all the blankets back in the far corner where I first found them. I made my way back down the stairs, making sure to look left and right before I heading to a curtain and out to the heavy door.

Making my way back to where I borrowed the candles from, I carefully place them back onto their holders. As I slowly turn around trying not to knock over the solid metal holder, I make my way back toward the heavy wooden door, taking a moment to appreciate my surroundings. I tried to open the door but it was still locked. I started to panic thinking I was going to get caught. Oh shit, I shouldn't have stayed here, I rushed around looking for another way out, while, all I could say to myself was shit shit shit I am so stupid. Making my way back over toward the dark red curtain, I see a door not so far away from it. To my luck, I found a side door that was unlocked. Pushing it open I made a hasty retreat away from the cathedral, hoping and praying that I didn't get caught leaving. I wasn't planning on going to prison in my lifetime. I made my way back down the side of the cathedral to the main part of the city centre, it must still be early and the town was still very much quiet. Before I made my way to the normal spot I'd sit during the day, I took a slow walk toward the clock on East Gate street to find out what the time was. Looking up at the amazing looking clock it was the only 7.30 am, thinking to myself this could be a long cold day. I slowly turn on my heel, I head back to my normal place outside Primark. Once I get myself as comfortable as I could, I kept my head down refusing to look at anyone. With my head down I notice that HMV has music playing, I couldn’t help myself but smile as it was one of my favourite songs from Steps. Sitting there thinking back to how I used to dance around my room to 5,6,7,8, I knew all the steps to the dance and the words, my head was bobbing along gently to the beat of the music, for the first time in a long while I had a happy memory from home.

I have no idea to why I put myself through sitting here every day, the smell of McDonald's always makes me hungry. I sometimes wish I could just up and walk into there and order a chicken select meal, I can keep dreaming of it. I don’t know how long I was sat there before, I was lightly tapped on the shoulder by a little girl offering me a McDonald's and a drink. I can’t even remember when I last even had food, with any money I do get given, I would alway make sure I had a drink. As if my dream just came true, that never happens to me. I smiled at the little girl while I took my food, my mouth was salivating. But before I started eating I wanted to say thank you to the lovely little girl.

“Thank you ever so much,” I said to the little girl with a bright smile.

The mother spoke back to me while holding her little girl's hand.

“You are most welcome, my little girl asked me when we were inside getting our food if we could buy you something, her words to me was”

“Mummy can we by the lady outside some food, she looks so hungry and thirsty, I don't want her to go hungry while we eat our meal”

I never wanted to cry in my life before but what the little girl said to her mum made me want to cry.

“Thank you again, I can't remember the last time I ate this means so much to me”

As I say that a stray tear fell down my face, swiping it away, I open the bag of McDonald's to find a big mac meal and chips. My mouth watered as I took my very first bite, humming in the pleasure of food, for the first time in days make me so happy. I took a long cold drink of my coke and smiled to myself that this was the best meal I had, had in a long time. I normally would eat out of bins or I was sometimes given food, but never a McDonald's in the whole time I was on the streets for. When I had finished with my food and drink, I collected all the rubbish and walked over to the nearest bin.

Just as I was about to head back to my spot, outside Primark. I stumbled knocking into the guy standing in front of me, when he turned round, my face turned scarlet with the embarrassment of what just happened.

“I am so sorry,”I say turning my head away so that I don't have to look him direct in his eyes.

“Hey, no worries, no damage was done, are you ok,” he asked me with sincerity in his face.

“I am ok thanks, I ummm. I have to go” I say a little too quickly.

Not waiting for his reply I head back to my spot and sit back down and bury my face in my hands. How embarrassing was that? I thought to myself. I look such a mess and I bumped Into a drop dead gorgeous guy. I felt like screaming.

Getting bored of sitting where I was sitting, I got up with my oversized duffle bag, I head out for a walk to get my leg muscles working again. Not sure where I was headed I just carried on walking, I found myself back at St Joseph's, walking around the outside, I wondered if I could sneak in there again to sleep. I let myself through the black gate, head toward a large birch tree that sits in the middle of the grounds and quietly sit underneath the tree. Pulling out my sleeping bag I wrapped it around my legs to keep them warm and carried on reading From the shadows. I was so engrossed in my book, I had not noticed the very dark clouds heading overhead. It wasn't till I felt a trickle of water on the side of my face I knew it was raining, quickly packing away everything I had out. I ran for shelter in St Joseph cathedral. Taking a seat on the pew, I looked up at the stained glass windows and was transfixed to them. I don't know how long I stayed sitting there looking at them but it wasn't till I heard a noise behind me that I stopped looking. Taking a look around, to see what was going on, there was a large crowd of people huddled in the door out the rain, not taking any notice of them I carried on looking at the stained glass windows. I hadn't seen one of the sculptures in the front of the cathedral of an angel, it was carved out of stone, it was an exquisite piece of artwork. There was such fine detail on the wings and the facial expressions. I wondered how long it took to make such a fine piece of sculpture. Sitting back relaxing not listening to the world, I was in my own bubble looking at the fine art the cathedral had on offer.

I finally stood up and started making my way to the door of the cathedral, to my luck it wasn't raining anymore. I decided to make my way over to East Gate street to check the time, it felt like it was late in the day but I know deep down it probably will only be 1 pm. When I finally got there I was almost right about the time it was 12:30 pm, wondering what to do with myself now as I didn't fancy going and sitting by Primark. I slowly took a walk toward Grosvenor park, just for somewhere different to sit. Wrapping my black bomber jacket around me tightly, wishing I had a scarf on today as it starting to get really, really cold. Heading toward the park I came across some old ruins not sure what they are I got to read the information board. What I found out while reading was that it is known as Chester Roman Amphitheatre it was founded in the late 70’s and it was left by the Roman empire. I found it interesting reading about the amphitheatre. I carried on walking till I got to the park and head over toward the large duck pond and find somewhere to sit there, unsure of how long I sat there for just watching the ducks swimming around the pond.