Hannahs story. (Short)

I ran. I ran as fast as I could, away from that park, and away from HER. After what she tried to do, I am never, ever going back, not for all the tea in china.

It all started when I was 5, and my mum had an argument with my nanna. I was only little then, and didn't know what was happening. I found out a couple of years later what had caused it, and why I never saw my nanna again.

Mum was drunk one night, she had just broken up with her latest "boyfriend". She came home in a right state, drunken to the gods, at 3am. She didn't tell my nanna she was going out, and bearing in mind she had abandoned me with her, she was furious. As soon as mum stepped through the front door, nan stormed up to her, and demanded to know where she had been.

But my mum didn't speak. She was so angry, angry with her ex, who had just left her. Angry at my nanna for breathing down her neck all the time. Angry at me, for being the biggest burden of her life so far, but most of all- angry at herself. Angry at herself because she threw away her only chance of education. Of getting a job, and supporting her family.

Mum stepped closer to nanna, and slapped her hard across the face. Bearing in mind she was 68 at this point, the blow caused her to topple over, and crash head first into the marble fireplace. Mum then spat on her lifeless body, packed a large suitcase, and dragged me out of the house. Out of the light, out of the warmth, out of the only home I had ever known.

Ever since then, me and mum had never stayed in one place for very long. We flit between friends houses, apartments and flats. Mostly living on people's floors, with hardly a sheet for warmth.

But what she did today was unforgivable. After all I have been through, she goes and does that to me? I've been with her, all 10 years we've been homeless, I've been with her, acting as a rock. I've let her shout at me, I've let her swear at me, but one thing I won't let her do, is abuse me. I've always said I would draw the line at that, and I did.

I was at the park when it happened, early this morning.

"HANNAH GET HERE RIGHT NOW!" She shouted, when I was sat on the swing, daydreaming. I leapt of, and went to see what she wanted.

Little did I know, it would be the last time I saw her.

She took me under the shade of a clump of trees, grabbed me, and shook me by my shoulders. "You've been stealing HAVN'T you!" She hissed, letting go of me roughly, making me trip over some roots.

"No I HAVNT!" I retorted, matching her tone of voice.

"You have, lying little scumbag." She snapped. "I've done my best with you all these years, and THIS is how you repay me? I'm disgusted."

"Done your best? DONE YOUR BEST? Is that what you call bringing me up, with no stable home, no warm clothes, and no proper food? And you say your disgusted with me? The other way round more like. Why did you have me if you couldn't support me? May as well of had an abortion when you found out you were expecting me."

She looked shocked, as if someone had slapped her across the face.

"How dare you-"

"How dare you? Is that all you've got to say for yourself? You useless-" but I never got to finish. She lunged at me, and used all her force to ram me into the nearest tree.

I was stunned. I soon came to my senses though, and leapt up. I gave one last look at her, and took off. I started to run.

So I've been walking the deserted streets since around 10:00am this morning, and it's 10pm now, so that's 10 hours I've been walking.

Or is it 12?

I have no idea, my brain has started to go fuzzy.

And my eyes. Is there really a bright light on the corner if that street?

My ears just popped, really loud. It was like a mini earthquake in my head.

I had stopped, and leant against the nearest solid object, a door. The streets started to sway, like a boat on the ocean. I felt myself losing conciseness.

Forever.

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The quiet girl to whom no-one talks,

Sneaks down the road, upon no-one walks,

Trying to get away.

She walks and walks until she can walk no more,

And then leans upon the nearest door.

Trying to steady her thoughts.

All of a sudden, she started to sway,

Losing her conciseness, slipping away.

Until she is finally at rest.