Second Chance

Bright Lights

I stumbled along the edge of the pavement, my bag swinging loosely by my side. My hair hung limp and wet, clinging to my neck as I strolled along aimlessly. It was late, but the city was still buzzing with life. Taxi's whizzed past me, bringing a flurry of rain crashing into my side.

People hurried by, wanting to get home to their lives. But I didn't hurry. I had all the time in the world; I didn't have a life.

I stopped to pull out my phone and check my messages.

3 missed calls: Mum

The low battery symbol quickly flashed up.

"Shit" I mumbled to myself. "Better go home"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

I put my keys in the lock and hurried in, out of the rain. The flat was still dirty by the looks of things, even though mum had promised to clean it.

"Grace? Is that you?" Mum yelled to me from the lounge, her voice slurred.

"Yeah, I've been at work, sorry I'm back so late I missed the last tube" I muttered, not wanting to make a fuss.

"Got any money?"

I could practically smell the desperation in her voice.

"Yeah. But it's mine. I earnt it mum" I said sternly, as I walked through to the small, untidy lounge.

"Fine. But don't go asking for anything from me you ungrateful little shit"

The words still hurt even though she'd said them to me hundreds of times before, but I pretended not to care, like usual.

"Yeah, whatever, night" I answered back carelessly. "I'm going to bed"

With that I walked out of the lounge and up the stairs to my room; the only part of the house that was actually tidy. I flicked on the light, shut the door and flopped down onto my bed.

I pulled off my Doc Martin's with a sigh, tucking them neatly into my shoe rack. I was too tired to even think about getting undressed so I just pulled back the duvet and climbed in.

My head hit the pillow and I soon drifted off to sleep.