Ed's further reflection in the shower

Ed's mind wandered as he showered. His life had changed so much for him yet for everyone else it was as though nothing had happened. He knew that he needed a long term solution to his financial problems and to secure his uncertain future. With no real qualifications beyond life experience from his travels and recent tragedy his choices seemed limited. However, he knew his mom would never want him to give up on himself.

He did have some options even though he might not have liked many of them which included getting Idris to pay rent or leave and then renting out the spare room, alternatively he could sell the property and move to a smaller place. The unborn child remained for the moment the life changing bombshell waiting to explode with a huge number of uncertainties around whether he was the father, whether Preeti would keep the child and whether she would expect him to pursue a serious relationship if he were and she did. She herself was too overwhelmed by the breakdown in her own marriage to confirm their future. Ed heard them argue and her husband had shouted at the house but there had not been any direct confrontation yet.

Ed finished the shower and got dressed in cheap but durable clothes. He looked at himself in the mirror wondering how a 19 year olds life had gotten so complicated. He should be living the college bro's life rather than dealing with adult life. He spent a few minutes flicking through his phone and looked at some pictures Manolo had posted from a party the night before. The last one he had shared Manolo was in a club with his arms around two girls who had plenty of cleavage on show and were obviously wasted. He felt pang of jealously as he compared his life to his friends but didn't resent his friend for enjoying his own life. Their decisions and fate had led them down drastically different paths.

His reflection was broken when a car beeped its horn from outside the house.