Chapter 1
What a long day it had been at college...not that I didn’t enjoy it; it was the fact that my other classmates, mainly the boys clearly didn’t understand the concept of being quiet and listening. I mean all they did was talk constantly, I’m surprised they didn’t run out of oxygen, that’s how much they were talking.
After college, I rang my brother to come pick me up but he said he was busy packing for California, I was going to have to take the bus, so I strolled down the desolate alleyways to the bus shelter on the main road. The winter evening air felt fresh and crisp on my delicate skin. Whilst I was waiting for my ride home I decided to read my most treasured book ever, Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella. This novel is my absolute life, the amount of times I have read it and still managed to feel as if I am in the character shoes was uncountable. It is also extremely relatable in terms of the psychological problems she faces. It’s because I understand how it feels to be trapped and petrified. It was like the phase I went through where I couldn’t step out of the house because I felt like I would be sentenced to hospital...again.
It had been about 5 minutes until the rumbling commotion advanced down the street and pulled up right in front of me, it let out a deafening squeal from the brakes and the air released by the bus caused a sharp “hiss” echo all around. Keeping the engine idling the bus driver unlocked the door for me to get on and I stepped on with precautious. I was scanning my “special” card when I glanced up, the driver was staring back at me with all facial expressions absent, as I walked towards an empty seat when the bus suddenly jolted up and forward immediately, I was aware of the eyes fixed on me so I swiftly took the nearest position available. I was just about to proceed with my book when I got a text message from Jenny.
Jenny and I have been best friends for over 15 years. Surprisingly enough we met at the children’s hospital. My parents used to tell me how we instantly had this connection. We started hanging together right from the start in nursery through primary and secondary school and even now in college, although we want our careers to go in different paths, our unbreakable bond has never failed in the past and never will. I am so lucky that I coincidentally got to meet her on the same day whilst in the patient room on floor B in the A&E ward of the hospital. I have very fond memories of that moment. She is more like family to me, like the sister I never had because she has been through everything with me, through thick and thin, it’s almost destiny in my eyes.
I finally got home and it was just about to strike 5 o’clock on dad’s treasured antique, which was barely standing withering away in the corner of the front room, every tick and tock seemed to be its last but it courageously prolonged every second. The darkness had settled across the city by now. I shuffled into the living room and the homely warm and cozy atmosphere consumed me, aunty Kathy turned to welcome me home. I could smell the delicious aroma of Keto Chicken Pot Pie...mmm my favourite, giving aunt Kathy a kiss on the head made me remember that I promised Jenny I would tell her when I arrived home safe and sound. So, I ascended the steep stairs and got to my room...my comfort zone.
The rest of the evening flew by. I decided to run myself a luxuriously relaxing shower which I definitely deserved. After getting changed into my most comfy Christmas pyjamas, I filled my hot water bottle and laid down on the couch in front of the flickering fire which illuminated the whole room, it gives me a sense of security and safety, where I can be myself without being judged. I wanted to watch some of my all-time favourite seasonal movies like The Grinch, Elf and Jingle All the Way, however ten minutes into the third film I fell into an uneasy sleep thinking about the next day.
