Falling

Chapter 1

Chapter 1.

As another day began, I clutched my pillow close to my chest, thinking of the day up ahead. My closest friend, Jessica had left me just a month ago, when she moved to Adelaide. We had planned to stay the best of friends forever, so when she finally told me she was leaving, I broke down in tears.

I sat up straight on the side of my bed, staring at the clock in front of me.

I couldn't help thinking about time. Yesterday felt like I had just started a new journey, and today felt like I came across a thick brick wall, giving me no choice but to stop in my tracks.

"Mel, come for breakfast!" My mother yelled from the kitchen.

Our house is quite cramped. Ever since my parents got divorced and my dad moved away, my mum and I have been staying together in a cramped apartment, due to lack of money. Our lives were full of joy until that one fight between them. I can't stop myself from thinking about it everyday.

As I brushed my teeth and went for breakfast, I noticed my mum wearing her pink robe, sitting on the couch.

"Aren't you going to get dressed, Mum?" I asked, curious why she wasn't in her formal clothes.

"I have to talk to you Mel."

"Well, what is it?"

"I don't have a job anymore. You are going to have to move to Africa, to stay with your father. I don't have enough money to care for the both of us. Sweetie, I'm sorry."

I froze on the spot. It was too much for me. My stomach suddenly felt strange and I knew that this wasn't going to end the way I'd like.

"But.. Where are you going to go?" I asked, tears welling up in my eyes.

"I'm moving to a smaller apartment, it's a one person apartment. I think that if you stay with me, I'll just be ruining your life even more. I don't have the money to take care of myself, let alone my own child". Tears began to fill her eyes. "Go to school today, tomorrow you can start packing because you're leaving on Saturday. Your father found a school near his laboratory."

At school, I sat alone in the cafeteria, staring at my soggy sandwich. I wasn't so upset about leaving this school. Ever since Jessica had left, I've just isolated myself. Nobody here was even bothered about education, it was just too much drama and gossip for me to handle.

My only worry was leaving Mum. She's been there for me since I was born. I remember all the wonderful moments I've had with her. Each and every night she would kiss me to sleep, singing me a short line from a poem that her mother used to sing to her "my child, my love, sent from above, peace and beauty, little white dove." It always made me smile. Just knowing that she loved me more than she loved anyone in the world. It made me feel less alone.

I know that it would be great to move in with my dad, because I love him too, I guess, but he's never really been there for me.

While my mum would sing to me each night, he would be in his study, working on some new project. The last time I saw him was two years ago. I doubt he'd missed me. He'd probably prefer being alone so that he could devote all his energy and time to his work.

When he said goodbye two years ago, there was no emotions attached to it. It was just as though it wasn't much of a difference in his life. He had moved to Africa, to work on some kind of project with his old friend, John.

Today was my last day at school. It didn't make much of a difference anyway. I couldn't care less about leaving this shithole. There was no one to hear me say goodbye. Honestly, I don't think anyone would notice my disappearance at all. I have always been invisible in this school, especially since my best friend, Jessica, left. She, like me, held no interest  in the gossip and drama that occurred.

***

The day had finally come. It was Saturday and we were at the airport. After all the packing I had done yesterday, I was ready to go, but there was something pulling me back. Mum. I'm her one and only child. I know that half of her wants me to stay, and the other half wants me to leave for my own sake, and I guess for hers, too.

"Bye mum," I cried, squeezing her tightly. "Thank you for everything you've ever done for me. I love you so much and I'll miss you."

"Mel, you know that I love you more than anything. I will talk to you through Dad if I can. Don't worry, you can maybe come back once in a while. Bye sweetie." As she said that, her eyes filled with tears, too.

We hugged once more and I finally walked through onto the plane. It was over just like that. That was the last time I'd see her for a long time.

My heart was racing and I was screaming on the inside. I sat back on the seat and tried to fall asleep, thinking about Mum as the airplane flew in the sky. And after about 9hours or so, when I looked out the window, I noticed empty land surrounding a small airport. I guess I had arrived.