Let Me In | Herophine Fic

Match Day

JOSEPHINE

The blaring sound of my alarm wakes me with a start. If you ask me, waking up at 7:30am on a Saturday morning - despite it being the summer holidays - is way too early. I've not even been getting up at this time during the week. Don't get me wrong, I'm an early riser but I take full advantage of not having to travel the short distance to West Ham when I'm not working. But I'm up for a reason and it's a reason I'm excited about. I'm speaking to my family today. I've not spoken to them in weeks other than over text but we're FaceTiming today. And I can't wait to see them.

As they're all the way in Perth, they're eight hours ahead of me in London. So when I climbed into bed last night at midnight, or thereabouts, they were probably starting their Saturday. We always FaceTime nice and early so they can get on with their evening and I can start my day once we're done. I can't wait to speak to them all. So much so, excitement bubbles in the pit of my stomach. They'll be getting ready for dinner when they call at 9am, my time. We have so much to catch up on. It's amazing how much you miss out on; especially when you've only texted and are halfway around the world in a completely different time zone.

Turning my head, the sun streams into my bedroom. Making it warmer than it already is. I have some time to kill given I've set my alarm nice and early. This is mainly so I'm up and will be much more awake when I'm talking to them. So, as I push to stand and get out of bed, I decide it's too nice of a morning to waste, even at this early hour. I'll go for a walk in Grove Hall Park. It's only around the corner and is one of the few parks that's full, lush and green in Alameda Place. There are so many more back home in Applecross, the suburb my family and I lived in. It was full of them and the beach, of course. But London is a city, Applecross is far from it. It's small and quaint, exactly what you'd expect a suburb to be. I miss it. I miss them. But I love teaching and my life over here. I'm meant to be here.

I pull my duvet back into place and smooth the pillowcases down. Heading to my drawers, I fish out a pair of black leggings and a marl grey T-shirt. It's warm outside, I can tell. The sun's already high in the sky, shadows bouncing off the roads and pavements outside. Just to be sure though - because you just never know in London - I take hold of a loose-fitting jacket as I leave my bedroom before heading to the front door. Reaching for the key in the bowl beside the door, I step out and lock up behind myself so I can hear to the park.

Wandering out of my building, I turn left when I get outside. Instantly, I feel the heat from above on my skin. It warms me, exciting me for my mini walk before I speak to my family. I love it when it's sunny in London, especially central London. The way the rays dance on the Thames, almost making it sparkle. How they bounce from both the old, gothic dated buildings and glass-covered skyscrapers. It's like the city becomes more alive than it already is. I'm so lucky to live here, I really am.

The day my parents and sister left for Perth again sticks in my mind and can be played over and over again. On a constant repeat. But I don't let it. I can't. Watching them leave after hugging me, tears streaming down all our faces, as they walked through the departure gate at Heathrow Airport was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I remember standing there, my arms crossed over me. Like I was hugging myself better. Very quickly as they walked away, I realised that I was and still am on my own. In a very different time zone and different country than to all of my family. But genuinely, as hard as it was to say goodbye, I wouldn't change any of it. Australia isn't going anywhere and neither is my family. They're still there for me to go back to, should I ever want to return to Australia. That thought has never really crossed my mind though. I've always felt at home in London, I've just never found the reason why.

Pulling the large, black wrought iron gates open, I push on into the cream, stony path of the park. The soft rustling of the trees and shrubs in the gentle wind fills my ears. Calming me as I start to aimlessly meander. We're still in the heatwave we were when the semester finished at school. It's not as hot but it's much hotter than normal for the UK. Even in summer. The seasons aren't as defined here as they are in other countries. Mainly it's cloudy and rainy here, so you've got to take advantage when the sun makes an appearance.