Changed For The Better

Leaving

Mai Lee opened my bedroom door in a hurry, without knocking. Luckily I'm not crying any more and hopefully she'll never know.

"Come on miserable. Mike is leaving. He's waiting downstairs to say his goodbyes"

"Promise the others won't laugh?" I said, pointing at my purple, swollen face.

"The others are outside waiting to wave him off. It will just be you, me and Mike"

I got up and slowly headed to the office where Mike was packing up the last of his things into a box. Next to the box sat the plate. I picked it up and realised what was so special. Everyone had their thumbprint on it, with their name and signature underneath. They never asked me to put mine on here.

"It's a lovely gift" Mike said. "I'll display it forever. That way I won't forget you"

"You'll still forget me though. I'm not on here"

"That doesn't matter. I'll still remember you. I mean, how could I forget?"

"Mike why are you leaving?" I asked.

"Like I said, the other care home needs me..."

"But we need you too!"

"This is important"

"And we're not?"

"No I didn't say that"

"But admit it, you'd rather be there than be with us lot here" I said, waving the plate around in my hand.

"Be careful with that will you"

"What's the point? You'll only put it in your attic when you get home and forget all about it! Same way you'll forget about all of us!"

"Hey, if you're lucky I might be back someday"

"And that will be the day when we're all gone"

"Look I know you're upset, but I'm only a phone call away"

"A phone call that you might not answer!"

"Marie can you just calm down!"

"No! Mike you don't have to go!"

"Yes I do! I need this!"

"And we need you!"

"You've got Mai Lee"

"And some other stupid careworker who won't know a thing about us. Mike you could stay. You don't have to go"

"Yes I do I need to be away from this place and away from..." he paused. Realising what he had said.

"These children" I said sadly. I started walking away.

"Marie, I didn't mean it like that"

"Oh yeah right! Well you know what? You can bog off! Bog off back to your other fancy care home with their fancy kids who won't cause you any bother whatsoever! They'll be all perfect and you're life will be so much easier without these children around to bother you!" I said as I started storming out.

"Marie wait..."

"I don't care! Get lost! I hate you Mike Milligan and I never want to see you ever again!" Then in a flash, I used both hands to slam the plate onto the ground, causing it to smash into a load of pieces.

I froze for a second, as did Mike and Mai Lee, before continuing to storm away. Outside the office, everyone was stood in a huddle round the door. I pushed through them and started barging up the stairs.

"I hope you all heard that!" I yelled. "I hope you all heard me say that I don't give a shit about this dump or anyone in it!"

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