Floodlights

Chapter 11

As Matthew despairingly looks over the edge of his bed, with his body slumped lifeless and arm flung over the side, he notices an old folder sticking out from under the cabinet. Inside the royal red photo album are clippings of when he was younger. Turning the pictures he sees pictures of himself playing. Young in face, different spiky hair and slightly blemished skin, it was like looking at another person. A young kid with all the potential in the world, muscles bulging on legs on a body that shouldn't, by weight, have such definition and size. Headlines celebrating successes and favourable reports fill the pages. He becomes prouder and manages a wry smile at the happy memories and various photos of an athletic self that looks foreign. Not only has his lifestyle changed but he has matured physically into a man; a part of his story down on paper. He begins to get excited and really miss parts of the game he has turned his back on for so long. He lets out a large exhaled sigh.

Matthew looks at his clock click around to 8am, reaches for his phone and dials.

"Hi Mum, It's Matty."

"Hello! This is early, are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine. You off to work?"

"In a minute. You know they are being a pain in the neck at work, first Gavin Dawes said"

"Mum!"

"Alright, what can I do for you?" Matthew's mum said with a little more of a clipped tone for being interrupted.

"You can tell me soon. I'm coming down to stay for a bit if that's ok? A couple of weeks at most. Helping out an old friend."

"Of course you can! Have you still got your keys?"

"Yeah. I'll be down today or tomorrow sometime."

"It will be lovely to see you. I have to go to work, I will see you later!" She says more excitedly.

"See you soon Mum."

4

Getting up from the dirty green fabric seats, Matthew shifted his bag towards the doors of the train and prepared his umbrella. The rain was particularly strong and it impossibly seemed to be even wetter with a strong wind smashing it off of all surfaces including Matthew's face under the umbrella. Walking out of the low key village station Matthew began his short walk back to his childhood. His hometown could have been anywhere with a housing mix of detached, semi detached and terraced housing all plotted out sometime ago to get as many in as possible. The roofs were all red slate and doors mostly new, white and double glazed. Delaying his return Matthew took the long way around to his parents' house by walking by the river. Here the wind completely ruled and often with its whistles and howls warned all that walked in it that it was its land. Matthew didn't seem to mind the wind although controlling his umbrella had become a task set for those with military training as the wind pulled it in many different directions. The river's tide was out and what could have been large ferocious waves crashing into the sea defences were now mud flats and the odd rain puddles. It looked like a desolate forgotten land that if someone dared walk in its mud, it would eat them alive. Finally Matthew accepted that the wind was defeating and he retreated for the quickest route home. Cutting through the town's High Street Matthew repeated the walks of his youth where his friend's would meet outside the old chicken fast food restaurant and walk up and down the line of shops every weekend to meet girls doing the exact same thing. The street had changed its face like a Hollywood actor after surgery but its heart was still the same. The buildings hadn't changed and only the odd shop had changed its name or moved on to pastures new. It had all the types of high street chains you would expect with everything from a WH Smith's to a Woolworths and Barclays Bank. Yet Matthew felt its soul, despite the neon lighting and new pavement, was still dark and old. The streets were dirty with the rain washing it onto the pavement and the incessant darkness caused by the rain clouds made the buildings look worn down, cold and unwelcoming. The heart of the town was stale and left a bitter taste in his mouth.