Shape Shifting Love

Chapter Two

Chapter 2

Mason

It was May 21st, me and Michaela were at school not listening or paying attention to anything Mr Miller was saying, just waiting for the bell to ring so we can rush off home to grab our wetsuits and head down to one of California’s sunny, golden beaches. Which we have done ever since we became friends. When the bell finally rings we both pile our things into our bags and are just about to leave our desks when a woman comes to the door with a note pad, “Err... hello Mr Miller can I borrow Michaela Ever and Mason Edwards, please?” We both look at each other, wondering what we could be wanted for as we follow the blonde haired woman down the corridor towards Mr Loms’ office. We enter the room, Mr Loms behind his enormous pine desk, police officer in one seat and a strange looking man in the other.

“Oh, hello Michaela, Mason how are you both today? Why don’t you have a seat in the middle of these two men?” We sit down, both of the men looking at us, the same depressed puzzled look on both of their faces. Just sitting there waiting for one or the other to speak, to say what they came here to say. They both stand and nod in silence, then the police officer looks at both of us, sitting there and says, “I’m very sorry, but earlier today both of your families were involved in a fatal car crash...” he stops, mid-sentence, gaze shifting from us to the strange man nodding in agreement of something “... and I’m very sorry but they were all killed on impact.” I sit there as the whole world around me goes silent, Michaela sobbing in her chair as Mr Loms tries to comfort her, but all I can think about is how? How can they be gone? Why are they gone? There are no tears to fill the empty void which was their lives, my mum, my dad and my little brother James, just vanished from the earth’s surface, never to walk upon it again.

Then the police officer comes to comfort me, but I just step away, not wanting to be touched or spoken to. Not until I come to terms with what just happened. But before I can make a dash for the door, willing to get away from it all, the strange man starts to talk “I know this is going to be a tough time for you two, but because you are too young to live by yourselves you will either have to move in with a relative or go to a care home.” I look at Michaela, her mascara running down her face knowing that neither of us can live with a relative. I try to calm my shaking hands and find my voice, “Err I don’t think either of us could live with one of our relatives.” The man nods and sits back down in his seat, “Well then,” he begins “have your things packed up by six tonight and me and one of my colleagues will be over to pick you up.”

The police officer ushers us out of the office and gives us a lift home in his car. No one talks, no one knows how to, all I know is that my house which used to be buzzing with laughter and people will be now empty, meaningless. I make my way up to my room where all my belongings are waiting to be packed up and taken away. I don’t want to take any memories away with me; it will only remind me that my family is no longer here. I get to my room, not knowing what I will need or want to take with me, so I just grab a bundle of clothes and throw them into an old, tattered rucksack. Searching for some money or something to keep me going, I don’t know anything about where I’m going so I might as well have some money or something to help me along the way. But as I rummage through draws and boxes I find a picture frame, one that contains a picture of me and my family. Looking at it I can’t help but think, why, why are they not here with me, my whole body getting hot with anger. I can’t take it anymore; I throw the frame across the room and sink to the floor as it smashes into thousands of pieces of memories and glass. Dropping my head in my hands, trying to fight against the tears that are blurring my vision. After sitting there in silence I get up and walk over to the shattered mess on the floor. Picking up the photo and shoving it into my bag as I make my way downstairs. I’ve got to go and see if Michaela is Ok, mean she will be more upset than me, won’t she?