A few weeks had passed and Siobhan was becoming more drained by the day. She sat on the edge of her bed her thigh bouncing up and down in soothing rhythm. Roger was still asleep, snoring obnoxiously. The morning light filled the room, casting a glow on the scattered bottles that littered the floor. Each one told a story of a night spent escaping reality but as she stared at them she felt a heavy weight in her chest. It was a familiar feeling, the dread of facing another day while battling the urge to reach for the bottle. Roger and her both struggled with the alcohol. It took a different effect on both of them. Each sip numbed Siobhan, whilst for Roger, each sip angered him. Today she had to inform staff about upcoming events and changes. As she arrived at work her head pounded, throbbing harshly in the bright morning light. She walked into the staff room with a sigh. She began to inform the staff about a ratio change allowing them to add more children to capacity. Siobhan thought it was selfish however she couldn't challenge Roger on it. She hated this change as the staff were being spread to thin as it was but as always she was painted out to be the villain. She walked out of the room and towards the car park but was followed by autumn.
"you are simply signing up too many children!" She argued.
"we have a six months waitlist, we are simply trying to get them through the door"
"you mean more money?"
Of course she did, Roger was greedy and selfish, didn't care about the welfare of the children or staff but again she argued back.
"with more money coming through we can get you the supplies you say you so desperately need"
"we just don't have to capacity."
The two quarrled back and forth until siobhon got fed up and began to walk away.
"I would say send my father my love however.. I hear you two are rather lacking in that department."
Siobhon froze, how did she know. She internally panicked, if Roger found out that people knew she would pay the price. It would somehow be her fault...Her intense thoughts stopped as autumn continued.
"feel free to send him my indifference instead."
Siobhan rolled her eyes and walked away, she was now in a foul mood. She walked into the car park, lost in thought as she heard a voice call out to her.
"Morning!"
"Morning." Siobhan replied, already pissed off from autumn. She walked past the parent. She didn't know or care to know who was talking to her until the woman spoke again. Vivian.
"Someone certainly got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning!" Vivian teased as Siobhan turned to face her. She was infuriated.
"for your information this is just how I always am." She shot back. She didn't have time or energy to talk, she was exhausted.
"no it's not, I have been told all about you, Siobhan serpent, former manager at the sister nursey, would walk around with a smirk on her face all the time" The woman teased once again. Siobhan felt slightly disappointed.
"you've been told have you? So you've made a friend?"
"certainly have, a lovely chap called stephan, I think you know him?" Vivian said sarcastically. Siobhan face dropped, clearly embarrassed at the memory. A gay parent she had inflicted her "homophobic" views, she knew she wasn't homophobic at all. She knew deeper down that she wasn't but-
She cut off her own thoughts and began to speak once again,
"I'm sure he had some lovely things to say about me"
"he did entilighten me about some of your more homophobic views... yes"
She was mortified as she attempted to walk away when she heard Vivian question her. "ever wonder why that is?"
"what?"
"well sometimes these views stem from self loathing, the call is coming from inside the house?" It was like Vivian could see right through her, regardless she continued.
"go physcoanaylise someone else im not in the mood."
"now don't go blaiming your mood, just a second ago you said this is how you always are." Vivian says with a chuckle. Siobhan was not amused. She scowled.
"if there is anything else?"
"there is one more thing, when it comes to loosing friends and alienating people you clearly wrote the book"
Siobhan paused. Growing up, she had always felt the sting of loneliness, never truly having friends. Even now, that emptiness lingered and hearing someone else and shine the blame on her, hurt. Just as she begun to shout she was cut off.
"however! I'm new to town so... here is my number if you ever want to get coffee-"
Vivian was interrupted by a wave of messages from Roger. She huffed as she grabbed her phone from her pocket. Vivian walked away to her car whilst Siobhan rushed to silence her phone. She shoved her phone in her purse and looked back up, no one was there. Roger always did this, knowingly or unknowingly, he always ruined any chance of Siobhan having some freedom. A few bitter tears welled in Siobhan's eyes but she quickly blinked them away, snapped back to reality when Vivian returned with a small piece of paper with her number on
'+44 9845 74326 call me x'
"Siobhan, here is my landline number, we are gonna do this old school, if you ever want to meet up for coffee ring me, I'll be home from 6pm tonight, show up with no mobiles because if I hear that phone ding one more time I'm going to throw it against a wall"
Siobhan stood there, slightly shocked and confused, as she took the slip of paper from Vivian hands. A slight chuckle escaped her lips.
"thank you Vivian I will call you."
"please call me Viv! It's what all my friends call me!" Friend? Siobhan smiled and holds like piece of paper close to her heart. A friend?
She placed the slip in her pocket and walked towards her car. A smile plastered across her face and flutter in her stomach.
