fading sanity

2. "They Said Run As Fast As You Can.."

This strange, looming entity of a man kept stalking my tracks everywhere I went. Every turn, every corner, every step. He was quite literally only 1 step behind me, not in the reassuring way, might I add. I couldn't possibly walk home like this, not with this freak creeping after me. So, I made the quick decision to walk towards my favourite lavender field, just a few minutes from my house. In that place I could feel safe. In that place I could also duck out undetected.

Once I finally made it to the front faded wooden gates to get inside the fields, I was immediately struck with a strong scent of fresh lavender. I had forgotten how content it made me feel, how..empty my mind became once I got that strike of pure bliss perfectly packaged in scent form. I briefly glanced over my sweating shoulder, trying to scan around for the man's lean, dark figure, when I heard a deep breath coming from behind me. I slowly turn around, preparing for the worst when I saw, "Hey, S!" A cheerful voice squealed from behind me. God, it's Nia, again. Nia has been my best, and kind of only friend since we were both 3 years old. I'm honestly not sure how we've stayed friends for so long, considering how different we are. She's always been the bubbly girl everyone wants to be friends with, and I'm her weird friend that just tags along with her everywhere. She can be a bit much at times, but I do still really care about her.
"I've been waiting for you for, like, ever! Where have you been?" She squealed, giving me the tightest hug you can imagine. In that moment, I honestly thought that one of my lungs would've popped like a balloon if I didn't let go in time. "Hey," I began "Yeah, sorry. I just lost track of time, you know?" I said while smiling awkwardly towards the ground.
"Oh, ok." She smiled, "It's fine! Anyway, I have so much to tell you!" She then grabbed my hands and jogged to a bench. I could already tell what she was going to talk to me about before any words had even come out of her mouth. It was either about some douche she was talking to, something this girl Ines said and/or did to her or one of her 3 million friends, or it was something actually different. "Ok, so," she said excitedly, with a grin from ear to ear, "I'm talking to this guy..." Shock! Horror! It's another guy off of the lacrosse team! I bet you his name is Chad, or something white and bland like that. "Wait!" She stopped, with her hands set out in front of her. "He's not that bad! He's in that weird club with you! Oh... what's it called again?"
"The literature club?" I asked, trying to decode her expression.
"Yes! It's that one!" She chirped, with an overwhelming amount of enthusiasm. "His name is Flynn. You know him, right?"
I sat there in thought for a few moments, trying to rack my brain of all the people in the literature club. "Oh!" I realised, "Yeah, I know him. Isn't he the tall kid with the black fluffy hair and glasses?" Nia nodded vigorously in confirmation. Flynn is a pretty cool guy, in my opinion. He's the kind of kid that just reads in the corner with his headphones in, but when you talk to him he can strike up a pretty interesting conversation. I was honestly so surprised when she told me that, considering her taste in men usually involves them being an absolute meathead and saying racial slurs. I was so proud of her, for getting out of whatever dating culture she was previously participating in. "Wow, Nini! I'm so happy for you!" I said while leaning into a big hug, making sure to let go first.

We had some more nonsensical chatter before we got up from the fence and walked home together. I still wonder who that strange figure was behind me, but that is metaphorically behind me now, thank god. Once we finally got to our homes, we hugged again and said goodbye for the night. I opened the door to see my mum not being home, again. I wonder where she is this time. Maybe she went off to Paris for another romantic weekend with Adam, even though it's only Thursday. Oh not to mention she 'forgot' to tell me, once a-fuckin-gain. Oh, my god, she left Sid in his highchair. He was crying so loud, I felt so bad. I looked through the cabinet, looking for anything to feed him. Nothing. She didn't even bother getting herself any food. The only things in the cabinets and fridge were a moulding pot of broccoli and carrot baby food that expired about 5 months ago and, surprise, surprise, 2 empty bottles of red wine. Jesus, I didn't think anyone could fail this bad as a parent, not even me. "Well," I said to Sid, "you ready to go get some food?" He babbled while clapping his chubby little hands together, giving me a joyous, toothless smile. "Alright, then." I picked up my keys and mum's wallet. I can't believe this is my reality. Although I've gotten used to it, no 17 year old should have to put up with this. Too bad mum's in too much of a drunken and lovesick haze to notice her kids suffering in plain sight..