Park Benches (EDITING)

one

one

 

Charlotte POV

           

           My mother sat across our tiny dining room table from me, her lips were pressed firmly together and her faded red mane was pulled back into a tight bun. Uncomfortably, I shifted around in my seat, repeatedly crossing and uncrossing my legs. The silence was killing me, I just needed an answer. My mother's face was contempt and unreadable, except for the inward pinch of her older cheeks.

            “Mom, can I please just have an answer?” I finally spat out uncontrollably, shifting the table between us.

            She sighed heavily. “I understand, but it’s just so expensive,” her eyes lowered sympathetically, hesitated, and then rose. “I suppose, if you really want this, my sister, your Aunt Erin, could keep an eye on you. She lives in the outskirts of London with her husband, you remember?" She tried to look happy, but her face just looked old. 

                      Happiness vibrated throughout my veins, pumping adreniline down to my toes. “Thank you so much mom! I love you so much!” I jumped up and hugged her across the table, nearly tipping it over. I kissed her cheeks a thousand times and ran to the bottom of our staircase. “I must pack!” I announced.

            She gently rose behind me, “Charlotte, you must understand you will have to pay for this yourself! It’ll be terribly expensive. If needed, your aunt will supply a little bit of money, but other than that everything is up to you.” She slowly approached me, half-smiling. She was trying to look so happy for me, but it was evident she was no less than heartbroken. 

            “I think a flight next Saturday would suffice. What do you think? God, I'm just so excited!” I kissed her cheek a hundred more times before disappearing towards my room. "I just can't wait to leave!" She lowered her eyes and retreated back to the kitchen table to finish her tea.

            Upon arrival to my small bedroom, I reached for my old laptop, pulling it open and egarly began searching for apartments in the London area, or flats as the Brits called them.  I found a few for a good price and emailed all of the owners. They weren’t the most luxiorious or largest, but I was only one middle-class girl. 

-

           Exhausted from my search for a new home, I was ready to pull the covers over my head and let sleep overtake me. As I shut my laptop, my mother leaned against my door frame, her arms crossed. “I called your Aunt Erin. She agreed to check up on you once a week, most likely Wednesdays.” With newfound energy,  I lept off my bed and hugged her.

            “That’s amazing!" I pulled away, letting her breathe. "Okay, I was looking up flats, which is the British way of saying apartment, and I found this one." I reopened my laptop and pulled up my new dream home.  It’s a large, one bedroom, one bathroom, and it's in a nice area. I have a view of a park, and it’s already furnished. It’s perfect, not even that expensive. I have a lot of money saved up from working at the market. Especially since you didn’t let me buy that gorgeous car,” I winked at her while she examined my computer screen. 

            She stared at the ad for a little longer before glancing at me, “Did you contact the owner?”

            “Yes, I emailed the landlord and they'd be more than happy to meet me at the apartment.” I squealed through my teeth,  unable contain my excitement; I had been waiting for this moment all my life. “Everything is working out perfectly. If it doesn’t,  I’ll just stay with Aunt Erin until I can find a suitable place.”