the willow tree

The town

here I am standing outside my new home in Silagchan, my whole life crammed into one small suitcase. My copper, silky, long thick hair ratted and messy in one singular plait. My boots leaking with water, where the rain has gotten into the soles. My knitted jumper, which did once keep me warm, now has several holes showing my undershirt. My jeans once were new, now all old and colourless, ripped at the bottom from where I've ripped at them while walking. The rain pounding at the shops windows, almost as if they were screaming to be let in. droplets landing in my hair, and running down my face. forcing me to keep wiping at my cold bare skin, causing my skin to redden. I was a mess. "This is a great way of representing myself" I mumbled as I dragged my suitcase down the pathway, walking with my head down reading instructions to my new apartment.

 "Odessa Winslow is that you?" a voice emerged from in front of me, making me drop my instructions in a puddle. " fuck" I loudly say, as I scrambled to my knees carefully trying to pick them up, without causing the paper to break. Unfortunately, this did not work. "no no NO!" my thoughts shout. I screw the soggy pieces of paper up in frustration, and put them in my jeans pocket. I stand up and stare at the women blankly, analysing her from her face all the way to her feet. She has black, straight pinned hair that rests on her shoulders. her eyes are brown, but beautiful almost making it difficult to look away. her lips were small and thin, she was wearing brown matte lipstick, but with a gloss over it. her skin was a beautiful light brown, her face was glowing and the sun wasn't even out. I could just imagine how angelic she is, when the sun is shining on her skin. her nose was pointy, with the smallest bump. this wouldn't be recognisable without staring at her for ages. She was wearing a baggy yet tight black jumper but only tight around her waist, a brown platted skirt that seemed a bit to big for her, as it reached her knees. The tights she was wearing had ladders going from the bottom of her ankles, all the way to her skirt. She was wearing black doc martins which were clean,  but you could clearly tell were very old. "Oh my- I'm so sorry, I did not mean to scare you! Can I help in any way" she says anxiously. Her voice sounded very familiar, yet it did not match her face. She spoke softly, even though you could tell she was anxious her voice sounded very calm. 

"sorry. Do I know you?" I say rudely. I never mean to be rude normally, but in this situation I was. My body is aching, and I just want to get home and sleep. Whoever she is, she has pissed me off. Without these instructions I'm going to struggle finding my way home. "You don't remember me? Its Fallon, Fallon shy" she stutters. She clearly knew I was pissed off at her, and I'm glad she knew. I mean who clearly sees someone concentrating and decides to jump out at them. 

My eyes widen I knew who Fallon was, she use to live in Cornwall until her and her family moved. She was one of my closest friends, but once she moved we fell out. Well she wouldn't reply to my messages, so that is what I gathered happened. We went to high school together, she was always there comforting me when my foster family would lash out at me. "Fallon..." I say, too stunned to even scramble a sentence together. I haven't seen her for years, I had no idea she had moved up here. if I had known that I wouldn't have even bothered moving to Silagchan. 

"what was on that paper, maybe I can help" she nosily says. "instructions to my apartment, which YOU have just ruined" I blurt out, shooting daggers into her eyes. " Her eyes go from excitement to disappointment. weirdly I cant help but feel bad for the way I have treated her already, but apart of me is frustrated and simply does not care. "I'm sorry Odessa, where is your apartment Ill tell you which way to go" she says, the excitement from reconnecting with a new friend has gone out the window. "crown street" I mumble, my patience is wearing thin. it is 19:37 it is raining, I am cold, I want to go home to bed. "walk down the pathway, until you reach that road. then turn left and carry on walking. That will lead you to a small pathway along the forest. Turn right up the cobble stone path. Your apartment should be there" she quickly says. Before I can tell her thank you, she drops her head down and walks off. 

As I'm walking down the pathway, my socks are socking wet and my whole body is shivering I look around. There's an old rustic building, a big sign falling off. The building reads, "Allan's book store" I get excited, as books was a way for me to escape back in Cornwall.I would steal as many as I could from the school library, since my foster parents wouldn't by me anything. It was clear, that they only cared about the money that came with fostering a child.  Alongside Allan's book store is a coffee shop, " the best coffee in Scotland for only £3.39, open 24hrs" I think about heading inside, but the sky is getting darker and the rain is getting heavier. I hurry down the pathway, and turn left. There is no street lights working down this path. In the distance I can hear scratching and the sound of leaves being scrunched. I can hear the wildlife run around, foxes running in front of me, straight over  gate to the forest. As I reach the end of the road, I look around for the cobblestone pathway. I spot it almost immediately, the path way is what you would imagine it. long towering trees alongside the pathway sheltering me from the rain as I scurry up it. Leaves crunching underneath my feet, with the sounds of the birds singing and the leaves crunching, it sounded peaceful. exactly like music. 

I reach the end of the pathway and walk up the steep broken steps to my apartment, dragging my suitcase behind me. I use the pin to get the key, unlock the door and barge my way in almost as if someone was chasing me. I open my suitcase and grab my only set of pajamas. I throw my soaking wet clothes onto the floor, without even putting my pajamas on properly I crawl into the bed. I close my eyes and pray for a somewhat better day tomorrow...