Valerie

ler

he entrance of the dor

straight face, I walked towards the door. I could feel all their eyes on me, their little wh

my every step and I stared back. She had the frowning

through the corridor but my heart almost left my body. I know I should be the happiest person

open and there stood her slender body i

looked at mine the pain I felt earlier immediately switched to anger. Suddenly I didn't want to le

o turn back to the dorm room, I could see the faint smile she had on, those mean eyes had no pity or

e whispered into my ea

aid, leaving us behind and walking

elease. Paula gave the usual advice of monitoring a constant urine test an

rk and gave meaningless advice

s an awkward tension between us t

n, asking how I'd been but it

air was palpable, thick and suffocating, like a heavy blanket draped over my shoulders. Beside me, my m

left alone in a sterile, unfamiliar environment with nothing but my demons for company. My mother left without even a promise

now threatened to boil over, bubbling up inside me like a cauldro

ardness and discomfort. I could feel my mother's eyes on me and could sense the unspoken questions

ing it to consume me, to fuel my defiance in the face of

gradually I noticed a change. I realized something was different. Confusion

, snapping me back to reality. "We're her

wed to a stop in front of an unfamiliar hou

nse of unease as I looked up

another pris

nd a figure came bounding out onto the front porch. My eyes widened in surprise as

little arms around me in a tight e

ear and uncertainty that had gripped my heart. For a moment, all I could do was revel in the joy of

ver me. The unfamiliar surroundings no longer seemed quite so daunting, the unfamiliar

wafting through the air. My mother stood in the kitchen, a small smile

tly, her voice filled with warmth and

odd

ly clasped in mine, my brother's i

hed a door at the end of the hallway. With a flourish, he swung th

ring grandly towards the spa

ndow that overlooked the lush greenery of the backyard. A small desk sat in one corner, a scatt

was bright and more girly. The only

something more exciting on my table not books but he loo

fect," I

the doorway, a warm smile on he

, Valerie?" she as

se myself before respond

use, the other seemed fine

somewhe

o change our house, my mother wasn't the

y children she meant me. She blamed that place for my drug addiction and behaviour towards her. She felt it was the

or us moving to this place. It was quiet a

we're going to t

ing emotions wash over me- anticipation, nervousness, a

e warmth of his embrace or heard the sound of his voice. The thought

go now" I

ng and you have to cle

bath. Since I've been there I haven't had a proper bath or m