Toast

Chapter Fifteen // Rosa Johnston

- Jade's POV -

I jumped out of my bed in fear as I heard my bedroom door thumping, I glanced across to my bedside table and checked the time. Who is at my door at 5:00am? I hurried towards the door and opened it to see one of the ladies who work at the reception of the boarding house standing with a worried expression. I stared at her in anger for waking me up so early.

"Sorry to wake you up but there is an important phone call at the reception for you" The lady said while looking me up and down, I was standing in a sports bra and boxers. I sighed loudly and threw on a t-shirt which I found crumpled on the floor and smelt of smoke.

I followed her down the silent cold corridors, I felt jealous of everybody who was asleep. We headed down the stairs and she let me into the small room behind the reception desk. The lady glanced at me again, still looking worried. She handed me the phone and then left the room, I was alone with a phone call from god knows who.

I looked around the room for a moment before bringing the phone to my ear..

"H-Hello? This is Jade" I stuttered slightly as I was still half asleep.

"Jade, thank you for taking the call. This is just going to be quick and I don't want you to freak out or worry too much alright?" A random mans voice said from the phone, I had never felt more confused in my life.

"Okay?" I said weirdly as I waited for him to continue.

"Basically your mother, Rosa Johnston has been admitted to Broadmoor Hospital.."

"Wait, what?!" I interrupted him before almost dropping the phone in shock.

"You are aware of her mental health issues? Unfortunately she attempted suicide a few hours ago.." He explained, my eyes instantly filled with tears and I was speechless.

"Are you sure it's my mum? A-Are you sure?" I stuttered more and more before holding my breath, he couldn't know I was having a breakdown on the other end of the phone.

"I'm afraid so but don't worry about her. She is getting cared for here and she will get back on track soon, you can call this number tomorrow if you would like to speak to her" The stranger went on and on and on but all I could think about was my mum wanting to be dead, I shouldn't have left home. She needed somebody, she needed me and I left her.

"Yeah sure, thanks" I muttered before throwing the phone across the room and hiding my face behind my hands, this has to be a dream.

A minute later the lady from the reception desk entered the room once again, she stared at me before smiling. I rolled my eyes at her before hurrying out of the room.

My mum has always had an anxiety and panic disorder, it doubled when my dad decided he was too good to be held down by a woman with mental health issues. As soon as he left us she turned into a wreck, she refused to leave the house because she was certain everybody would judge her for being ill. I would get home from school everyday and have to help her out of extreme panic attacks were she would throw up her whole stomach, the worry and fear had taken over her life. I never thought she would want to die, I thought she would get better if she didn't have me around to try and take care of.

"Jade, would you like to have a day off school? Just to wrap your head around things.." The lady asked sympathetically, I stared at her in anger before shaking my head and walking off. I don't need time off, I'm not weak.

I hurried back to my bedroom to get my cigarettes, I don't think I'll be sleeping tonight. I quickly got changed and made my way down the corridor and out into the freezing cold air.

~~~~~~~

Hours passed and it was 8:30am which meant it was time for school, yay!

I had spent all morning sitting on the lane smoking every cigarette in the packet I had, I was knackered from crying and barely getting any sleep.