Midnight Run

“And with Coleman getting laid off, I really don’t… I don’t think I-“

“I get it,” my mum interrupted. “Don’t say it, I get it.”

Silence prevailed, not just in the kitchen but throughout the house. It crept down the hallway and up the stairs to where I sat, crumpled, listening to them with my arms wrapped around the banister. Every word caused more worry to build up inside me, but I couldn’t stop eavesdropping.

I knew things were getting tough: the empty glass bottles in the recycling were mounting and the contents of the fridge depleting, but I wanted to know exactly how bad. Were we going to sell the house? Was my mum going to get another job?

I untangled myself from the banister and quietly tiptoed back to my room. My head awash with questions, I decided that I had to get out – the walls were beginning to feel like someone else’s already.

Grabbing my favourite shabby denim jacket, I tugged it on and then opened up my window, welcoming the fresh air into my room. I pushed my snow globe aside and clambered out onto the roof. The darkness pulled me further, luring me away from the house, and I admired the blanket of stars above me as I shuffled along the roof. Reaching the end, I let out a defeated huff before turning and climbing down my mum’s trellis, squashing the odd rose as I did so.

I yanked my bike out from beside the shed and set off. Midnight runs were something I had made a habit of, especially recently. It let me escape. The faster I pedalled, the more distance between me and the house, the better I felt.

Taking a left, I looked onward into the shadows as houses flew past me. I continued to weave through the veins of my neighbourhood until I was a good few miles away, heading for where my best friend lived. I never visited her at this hour, but I liked to pass, sort of like I was checking up on her.

Soon enough her house, as cosy looking as ever, came into view, a cliché white picket fence separating my bike wheels from her newly moved front lawn. (Note: it was always newly mowed.) I placed one foot down to steady myself and glanced up at her window, the light already out. I was glad she wasn’t still awake like me.

I paused for a moment, thinking about her: the unruly blonde curls, the button nose, the loudest laugh you’ve ever heard. I smiled to myself a little and set off once again. Maybe one day I’ll call for her. I pedalled. Maybe one day I’ll tell her everything. I pedalled harder. Maybe one day I’d explain. I took my feet off the pedals.

Maybe.

As much as I valued her, as well as my other friends, I just couldn’t tell them anything like that. I was too scared of losing them; too scared they’d get fed up of the moaning. Anyway, why spread negativity? Things could have been worse, so I was keeping my mouth shut. They were too important to risk for a rant.

I got back to my house an hour or so later to find my parents had retreated to their bedroom, a gentle glow emitting from through their drapes. I climbed my way back up and into my room, closing the window behind me. Taking my jacket off, I sat on my bed and kicked off my shoes before slumping back.

The walls still didn’t feel like mine. Not anymore.

Notes

Just a short introduction chapter to give a little background/context. A lot of drama to come.

Thanks for reading!! x