LDN

8,174,100

10 hours earlier...

8, 174, 100 people. I stared at the wikipedia page before me and instantly felt intimidated. London. Cosmopolitan, fast paced and urban. I had lived in the countryside all of my life. My mother began to study law in London when she was 18 but moved back in with my grandmother once she fell pregnant with me. And she was finally ready to move back. My life has always been consistent , consistently safe, consistently sheltered consistently dull. I wanted this move to not only mean a new location but a new me. I didn't wan't to change who I was exactly but my surroundings have never nurtured my true essence. Magority of my neighbours where white and middle class, some made no effort to hide the resentment they felt towards me. They had their own little section of the world which had not yet been plagued by multiculturalism and I acted as a reminder of the impending threat.  I didnt always fit in. There were  only a few schools  in my town and I had  been with the same people since I was 4 years old. I was weird to them. They didn't relate to the frustrtion I felt when trying to deal with the thick black ringlets that crowned my head they couldn't identify with my brown skin. I have never had a chance to show how adventurous and impulsive I can be. Just finishing my GCSE's meant I had over two months before I started at the local college - two months to become a seasoned londoner. I had so many things I wanted to try. This move meant big things.

"Nawal shut that thing down now I'll be waiting in the car outside!"

My mum called out from the deeper depths of our cottage followed by the clatter of the boxes that were being transported by the mover men. I closed my mac book, my solace, my only get away and slid it into my satchel. I took one last look at the yellow walls and the hard wooden floor boards. My room, my entire home had been stripped of all identity the feeling of nostalgia was overwhelming. This was the one and only place where I was accepted.

As the 7am sunlight hit me I saw my grandmother embracing my mother in a hug. I smiled and savoured the bitter sweet moment. These two women were my everything. My grandmother was so much fun. She had travelled near and far she was so quirky and fun and accepted everyone for who and what they were no questions asked. Her thin blonde wisps of hair blew in the wind as she looked up and beckoned me over. She nuzzled me and I was overwhelemed by her soothing scent of honey and lavender. She stroked my cheek and we didn't exchange any heartfelt words as the three of us had spent half of the night reminiscing and crying. We were all alike in the sense that once we have opened up about something that's it. 

"I'll miss you Nan" 

"I know love make sure you call me as soon as you arrive". 

I nodded and tried my best not to cry as I climed into the back of my mother's car

"Alright Nawal - this is it".

She pulled out of the driveway at what seemed like a painfully slow pace and I watched as my understanding of the word familiar gradually disappeared.