Antidote

- 1 -

1

I've been strolling around London for too long... London never changes, it's always dark and gloomy, and I don't know what I expect to be honest. It's always the same street I stroll down, in the same suburb. Yet... London can always amaze me in a way. It's too bad that I don't live here. My real home is Australia, and I'm proud to be Australian.

I don't have a family; don't have my parents around anymore. All I have is my brother, Charlie. We are only here because we needed to get away from home. My house in Australia with all my family, I don't call that home. Home is where you're happy, where you feel safe.

To me that's not home. My home is someone's arms. I don't have a someone, but I like to think I do. It gives me something to think about other than death.

I ran away. I've been running away all my life.

This life in London feels great. I'm on the other side of the world. Away from some of my problems. But most of my problems are all in my head.

My phone starts to ring. It has to be Charlie, considering I kind of just ran away. I took my phone out of my pocket and clicked the green button to answer the call.

"Hello?" I say into the phone.

"Oh my god, Rebecca! Where have you been?! I've been wandering around looking for you!" I hear Charlie through the phone.

"Relax... I'll walk back home..." I say with a sigh, turning the other way.

"Becca, please just get home. I don't want to fight about this..." Charlie says with a sad sigh. I stop walking.

"Fight? I wasn't planning to start a fight. I thought that you already knew about my state of mind right now." I say angrily.

"I'm sorry, Becca. But please just come home already." Charlie says.

"Fine..." I say with a sigh. I hung up the phone and slid it back into my pocket. With my head down and my hands in my pocket, I start walking back to my apartment. My mind is racing with thoughts, the thoughts that have stuck with me ever since I was 8. I'm 18 now and I haven't gotten any better. It's the dreadful feeling of being lonely, like you have no one's hand to hold.

I guess I was too deep in my thoughts as I just bumped into someone.

"I-I'm so sorry..." I say awkwardly as I look up.

"It's all okay. I'm Tyler by the way." Tyler says, sticking his hand out for a handshake. I smile slightly.

"I'm Rebacca." I reply.

"What are you doing wandering the streets of London at night?" He asks me, looking down at me. I'm quite short compared to him.

"A-Ah... uh, just some shit going on. Needed to escape for a bit." I reply looking down.

"Ah I understand..." he replies looking around the street. It was awkward silence, you could hear the wind pass by. Cars passed by, a few people wandered the streets.

"Listen... be careful around here, you could run into the wrong person. I know we just kinda met but," Tyler says as he pulls out a slip of paper ", this is my number. I'd love to get to know you, also just call me if you ever get into some sort of trouble.". He hands me the slip of paper, I smile at it and slip it into my pocket with my phone in it.

"Thank you. I better head home." I reply looking back up at him.

"Good idea, it's getting late." He smiles at me.

"Hey... uh, thank you. I know you didn't do much, but you made me feel better tonight." I reply as I smile.
He chuckles a little. "It's okay. I guess I'll see you around, Rebecca." Tyler says walking in the opposite direction.

"Yeah. I'll see you around!" I slightly yell at him as he walks away. I turn around and start walking home, with a slight smile on my face. Great things can happen in a matter of 10 seconds.