Going home

You walk out on to the street. It's still light but it's starting to get dark. It's late summer but it feels like autumn tonight. You can smell chimney smoke and you pull your jacket tighter round you against the cold.

You walk towards the bus stop, then past it. You look over your shoulder back towards Matt's house. No one's there to see you. You pull tight the shoulder straps on your rucksack then tuck your thumbs behind each strap at your chest and start to jog. After a minute of skipping along you are out of sight of Matt's house and then onto the main road. Once I've warmed up I'll pick up the pace a bit. Only took 30 minutes last time, you think to yourself, enjoying the feeling as your legs spring you along the pavement. Bit of extra cardio never hurt anyone.

In truth you had already taken the bus to uni this morning and you didn't want to spend any more money on bus fare, as you were practically skint as it is. You recieved a small student loan but most of that went towards food and bills for you and your mum. You also had a part time job as a waitress at a cafe but you struggled to pick up many hours. What must it be like for Matt to never worry about money, to never have to worry about keeping a roof over his head.

Your mum was an alcoholic and could never hold down a job for long. She was bringing in a little bit of money working as a pub cleaner at the moment but she would probably get fired soon as you were sure she wouldn't be able to resist helping herself to the gin. I'll never be like her! you thought and the anger spurred you on, your stride getting longer, heart beating faster. I'm going to make something with my life. I'll be living in a house just like Matt's, and no one will look down their nose at me. I'm not sure how yet but I'm going to find a way, I just know it. Your legs are starting to ache. Shit better slow it down a bit. Got to train in the pool tomorrow, and got a competition next week. Save it for the race.

Before long you notice that you are near home. A few more turns and you're on Park Road, a far cry from the beautiful tree lined streets where Matt lives, and their large detached houses with their front gardens and long driveways. Your apartment block is in front of you, grey and bleak. You sigh.

You slow down to a walk and enter through the main door, up the stairs, and here I am. You pull your keys out of your bag and open the door.

"Mum, I'm back?" Nothing. Tut, she must be out again. At least she wont see these stains. You quickly strip off your clothes and throw your top and bottoms in to the washing machine. Then you hurry into the bathroom and get showered.

Wrapped in a towel you head back into the kitchen and open the fridge. For fucksake! There's not much to work with. No wonder I'm so fucking skinny. You take out the milk and make yourself a bowl of cereal.

You take it to your room and close the door.