Light

Escape

That's all, she can't take everything. A couple of drinks. Mostly water bottles, not wanting a couple of Budweisers to make her journey stressful. Having them would ruin her vision, her awareness around her surroundings. Some snacks were put in her backpack. Walker crisps, bread rolls, chocolates and biscuits left in the cupboard. Enough to feed her for a couple of days, depending on how long it would take for her to find the Light.

Walking around the whole house, checking everything, making sure there isn't any important stuff she shouldn't be leaving behind.

Going into the living room, checking all of the drawers there. The house key is inside. Reaching her hand there but stopping herself from doing so. Thoughts and doubts coming into her head. She still has the fine to pay but leaving her house, escaping the warning or worse, breaking the rules will result in dangerous consequences.

Remembering what Joseph said to her the moment he started talking about the Light, the journey is impossible, it will be filled with dangers. Dangers she will be facing ahead. But he wasn't clear on the type of dangers she could be facing.

But with the world she's living in now, the soldiers, the government, they are considered for her the dangers in her journey in finding the Light. What's in the woods, unsure, but knowing the place, it's filled with animals, including ones particularly dangerous.

Those doubts, clouding her mind, she knows once she begins her journey, she will never come back. If she's caught, she'll be in the quarantine zones, failing to reach to the Light. But even if she doesn't get caught, death is around the corner.

They will be alarmed if the house inspector in her neighbourhood comes to her house to do the usual 'checks'. Her head now cleared up, she chooses not to grabs her house keys but doesn't push her drawer back, no point in doing so if they find out she's not in her house anymore.

Having got everything in the kitchen, she goes upstairs. Looking around the rooms. Could grab her toothbrush and toothpaste from the bathrooms to keep her breath smelling good and her teeth white, clean and fresh. But she's in the woods. Wouldn't really have time to do so. It's still something she has thought of in her mind.

Going into the toilet, grabbing her toothbrush and toothpaste, putting them in her bag. Going into her bedroom. Looking around the entire room.

She's going to miss the bed, the nice clothes she's going to wear, the hot food and all, knowing she won't be able to do these things again for a while.

Sitting in her bed, looking around the whole place, admiring it. Before her attention turns to the phone. Staring at it, looking at the time.

9pm, she's been getting herself ready for hours. Even enjoying the final time she'll be in her home. The wallet still contains money, she doesn't need it anymore. It can remain in its place.

Seeing all the picture in her phone. Not a lot of pictures taken during the pandemic time. Scrolling down, revealing all of the photos taken between herself and her friends, most of them, involve Joseph. The fun times she would do with him, the troubles they came across, those were the best times she had with him. Even pictures with her time with John and the gang in Butlins and other places they chose to go after Butlins.

Continuing looking at the photos, before her attention turns to a photo of John. John is still with her but not for long. Whatever she's going to do now, will be the last time he would hear from her.

Going into her contacts, going to his name and reaches to the point she can press the call icon, talk to him, say goodbye to him, one last time. John is not going to like this but what choice does she have. As long as she doesn't make it obvious to him. Pressing the call icon. Waiting for John to call her back. The wait for him to call her back is starting to last a few minutes. Hoping he answers her call, just to hear his voice, and for him to hear her again before she begins a journey she can never come back from.