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