Madhouse

Back to Reality

The emptiness of the house was eerie as I placed my suitcase in the middle of the entry. I flicked on the light watching the living room illuminate. Everything was just as we had left it three months ago.

 After we left we made our way to my grandparents place in the south of France. Unfortunately that’s where my parents had stayed. Our time away had been therapeutic and healing. Things were starting to feel less empty now but my parents weren’t ready to come back and I felt like they wouldn’t at all.

 I had a life I left behind and friends and it was time I came back to reality and move forward. In all honesty I was excited to be back.  This place held a lot of memories. Grabbing the note left in the middle if the coffee table I read it as I walked aimlessly around the house.

Hey Babe.

We popped all of Jess’s things into her room and tidied up the house.

Call us if you need anything. Warning we are coming round to yours this afternoon. Be prepared to get reacquainted.

Love Gerri and Jill. xx

They knew me well and I was glad they had placed all the things that would have been a harsh truth or reminder away. It was hard just being here but it helped. I was strong enough to stay and move on. Jess would always be in my heart.

I dragged my suitcase upstairs to my bedroom and slumped down into my bed.

“Oh how I’ve missed you!” I said as I grabbed my pillows and held it too me. I let the tears fall as it all slowly sunk back in and reality took over.

-X-

I heard the knock on the door before looking at the clock beside the bed. I had fallen asleep and it was now four in the afternoon. Fumbling down the stairs I flung the door open to see my two closest friends before being pulled into a group hug.

“I can’t believe you are back! I’ve missed you so much.” Jill said as she squeezed me tighter.

“You look great Amy. You don’t want to know how much I missed you” Gerri said as she let go of me to pull us all into the house.

“I want to thank you guys for looking after this place while we’ve been gone. Means a lot.” We all flopped down into the lounges in the living room.

“Of Course Babe. Jill and I were happy to do it.” Gerri smiled at me from across the room. Jill nodded in confirmation.  

The three months we had spent apart had been hard. They seemed so different but like nothing had changed. I could tell they had grown a lot while I was away and I wish I had been here to do it with them. Jill was still her petite slim self with her short straight blonde hair falling past her shoulders. Before I had left it had barely reached her shoulders and she had put highlights through her hair.

Gerri who used to have dark brown tresses tied high in a ponytail upon her head had lightened her hair to a now lighter shade of brown that had grown longer and was left out to rest around face and upon her chest. Her tall slim figure hadn’t changed and neither had her fashion sense or her perfectly shaped and filled eyebrows that were never altered.

“Its good to be home.”

We had spent the last three hours catching up and talking about anything and everything. They had decided that we were going out tonight for a girls night out. It was exactly what I needed.  

“You look absolutely smokin’ girl.” I giggled at Jill’s comment bout my appearance. It had been such a long time since I had last had a reason to dress up.  I was wearing a tight fitting red dress that hugged all my curves in the right places. My hair was straightened and my makeup applied. I felt as if my skin was glowing. All the sun in the south of France had done me good and I had a nice warm glow to my skin.