The Decision

Chapter 1 - An Unexpected Visitor

Chapter 1 - An Unexpected Visitor

As I sat leaning against the canteen table, I gazed distantly out of the window in front of me and began to admire the spring sunshine. I rested my heavy head against my hand and inhaled deeply. After a few moments I exhaled, letting the trapped air escape my lungs. The intense glare coming from the sun forced me to close my eyes. I kept them shut and enjoyed the heat radiating on to my pale face, warming my skin. With my eyes closed, I thought about life for a moment. My life.

For the eighteen years I have been alive, I have always remained here in Doncaster; My home town. I reside with my mum, Alison, in our small detached house on the outskirts of town. Our property is nothing fancy but cosy enough for the remaining two of us to inhabit. However, mum's gone away at the moment. Her best friend Maria was taken ill a few days ago, so she has gone to stay with her for a while in London, leaving me here to run this place. By place I mean our family business, Dad's business: An inspired British tea shop called 'The Teapot'. Mum came up with the name, she thought it was great. I, on the other hand thought it was lame. She persuaded dad to use it which he did. He always gave into mum. It's like she had some evil curse upon him and he obeyed her every whim. But I knew the real reason, he was deeply in love with her.

It was intense sometimes working long shifts in the shop. We opened at 8am and closed at 6pm every day apart from Sunday's when it was closed all day. It was only a small structure in the center of town but it was very popular and always bustling with custom. Although I may complain about it a lot, I really didn't mind working here. I got to earn some extra money and hang out with my best buddy Sadie. She works here too. Me and Sadie have been friends since we were five years old. She was naturally pretty; I envied her beauty. Her caramel toned hair fell effortlessly in loose curls and her hazel eyes were always warm and welcoming. I wish I took care of my hair the way she did. I always kept my luminous blonde hair up in the same scruffy bun, not having the effort to do it in a morning. Sadie tells me it looks 'trendy' but I don't believe her.

Apart from Sadie, the only other company I do have is Jazz my golden Labrador. Ever since dad passed away three years ago, mum thought it was a good idea to buy a dog. She thought it would keep my mind occupied. She was right in some respect, but even Jazz couldn't always fill the massive hole he left in our lives. I named him Jazz after my dad. He used to love listening to Jazz music and we still play some occasionally in the shop in memory of him.

Oh, how I do miss him.

The thought of dad brought a small lump to the back of my throat and I could feel my eyes beginning to well up with tears.

As if right on cue, I abruptly heard my name being called out from inside the shop.

"ELLIE!"

I bolted upright in my seat, springing back into reality. I have a bad habit of daydreaming; I suppose it's my way of escaping the real world.

"Coming!" I shouted back whilst composing myself. Blinking away any newly formed tears and swallowing the lump that formed within my throat.

I stood up and swiped my sky-blue pinny from off the table and glided across the confined canteen. As I made my way towards the door, I fastened the pinny securely around my waist, protecting my plain white t-shirt and blue jeans I wore beneath it.

I parted through the colourful wooden beads which hung down loosely in the doorway and was greeted by a que of six people stood patiently in line, waiting to be served.

I took a short breath in and walked behind the counter towards Sadie. She noticed my frail expression.

"Are you alright Ell? What took you so long?" She questioned with concern whilst passing the tall man opposite his black tea.