Broken.

2.

The next day I finished up my packing pretty early and decided to go for a drive since I wouldn't be back until break. I ended up stopping at Starbucks for a coffee. When I walked in I immediately spotted Trent and Alex in the corner. Keep your head down, keep your head down, I told myself luckily I ordered, got my coffee, and left before anything bad could happen. I decided to go home after that, I didn't want to risk any more run ins with someone who was ready and willing to beat me to a pulp.

Today was the day, I could finally leave. I wouldn't have to live with my ass of a father anymore. I could be free. I drove back home to see my mom piling the rest of my things into the back of the car my parents had gotten me as a graduation present. I wanted to leave after lunch instead of the early morning like most people. We shipped some of my stuff to the school, but I was flying with most of it.

My flight left from Dublin tomorrow so I was leaving tonight and staying the night a motel near the airport. It wasn't a long flight but it left in the early morning, 5 a.m I think. I needed to leave in about an hour. I got out of the jeep and took the bag from my mom and put it in the car. It was the last bag so I followed her inside. She had started lunch already so I followed her into the kitchen and sat down. 

She handed me a bowl of soup and a chicken sandwich, which happened to be one of my favorite meals. After she sat down I dug in, eating my sandwich and most of my soup by the time she had eaten half of her sandwich.

We didn't speak much, and I hadn't been speaking much lately. I hadn't been myself in a while. My mom noticed but didn't push it. She could tell I was upset and didn't want to make it worse. She was letting me take care of it on my own, which I appreciated. I was going to miss my  mum so much, but it was time to move on. 

I put my bowl in the sink and mum must have noticed the time because she got up and hugged me tight. Her frame even smaller than mine clinging to me for dear life. She reached up and whispered in my ear, "I know you can do this Nialler, I'm so proud of you. I love you so much." I hugged her tighter and let out an, " I love you too," I was trying my best not to cry but a few tears slipped. My mum on the other hand was racking with sobs. 

"Now go, its time." I kissed her cheek and walked out the door. I made it to the car before I lost it. The tears pouring down my face. It made me feel weak but I couldn't help it. I pulled out of the driveway to the house I had lived in for 18 years, not looking back I drove knowing that a better future awaited me.

I couldn't say I was going to miss it, but I was going to miss my mum. I pulled onto the interstate to Dublin, my tears were starting to slow and I reached into the glove compartment and got out my all time favorite CD, How to Save a Life, by The Fray.  It had stopped me more than once from pulling the trigger.

I was halfway to Dublin when the final note of the last song on the album rang through my small car. I ejected the CD and carefully put it away, deciding to just listen to the radio and enjoy the drive. Hall of Fame, by The Script came on and I started to sing along to the song I knew well. 

I turned onto the exit to the hotel and pulled into the parking lot. I took out my carry on bag that had my toothbrush and my change of clothes for the morning. I checked in and got into the lift. According to my key card, my room was on floor 5, room 567.

A ding rang through the lift and the doors opened. I stepped into the long empty hallway, and started looking for my room. I saw room, 550, 557, 560, and finally saw room 567, I put down my bag next to the door and inserted the card into the slot. The light turned green signaling I had the right room. 

I walked in and put my bag on the bed. I walked over to set my alarm to 3:30 a.m to make sure I had plenty of time to get to the airport and get through security. I decided showering was a good idea, since I had been driving most of the day. Also, I really needed to use the loo. After I got out of the shower I used the hotel phone to order pizza. 

I put on some pajamas and turned on the telly to a foot ball match, I had been watching the game for about 20 minutes, when I heard a knock on the door, signaling that my pizza had arrived. I grabbed my wallet and opened the door. 

" £10.95 bro," I handed the guy £15.00, "Keep the chnage," He smiled at me and said thanks. I ate all of the pizza and felt like I was going to burst. My eyelids felt heavy and I fell fast asleep full of pizza.