Welcome to Reality [UPDATES FRIDAY]

3. Elijah

There's not much to pack when you're starting a new life. You leave behind the posters of pin-up girls, because from this day forward, you'll be sharing a house with real life women. You don't want to take the teddy bear that's been sat on your pillow for eighteen years, just in case that's not cool or something. You get your mum to buy you some new clothes, and then you take them all back to the shop, because what self-respecting boy of my age lets their mother shop for them? That's how the process of moving out is going for me, anyway.

The only thing I'm insisting on taking with me is the diary I've been keeping under my bed for years. It's one of those beautiful things you can't bear to touch for fear of spoiling it; at least not until the time feels right. Its leather bound, sleek and black with gold-rimmed pages. I promised myself I'd save it for the year my life started picking up. I'm determined that this year is mine for the taking.

The rest will have to stay here. I can't imagine what Mom will do with it all after I leave. Once I'm gone, I won't be coming back, after all. I pick up the teddy from my pillow and squeeze him close to my chest. His fur is scratchy and worn from years of wear and tear; years of falling off the bed in the middle of the night, years tucked under my arm as I fall asleep, years of lonely tears embedded in his fur. 

I guess not all of my memories of him are happy.

Mom sticks her head around the door. 'Are you ready to go, poppet?'

I drop the teddy bear like it's hot. 'Please, Mom. Promise you won't call me poppet when you drop me off.'

Mom smiles fondly, leaning in to pinch my cheeks. 'I promise. I know you're embarrassed of your old Ma.'

'You know that's not it...'

Mom pats my cheek. 'I'm kidding, Elijah. You need to learn to chill.'

'I know...' I sigh, taking one last look at my room. 'I guess I just didn't expect to be this nervous. What if no one likes me?'

'Of course they'll like you. What's not to like?'

'Mom...'

'I know, I know you think I'm biased. But those kids from school don't know what they were missing out on. You're a good kid.'

I let Mom squeeze my cheek one last time.

'I'll wait for you in the car. Don't be too long. The boat leaves in an hour.'

'I know, Mom. I heard you the first fifty times.'

'Well, you want to be there early, don't you? It looks good if you're early.'

'Or way too eager.'

'Trust me. Reali-TV like eagerness. That's what got you this job.'

I suspect they gave me this job because I've got nothing to come back to. For them, that means job security for life.

Mom drops me off at the jetty. She helps me with my bag, even though it's heavier for her than it is for me. She stands stiff as I swing it over my shoulder. She dips her head.

'You'll keep in contact, won't you?'

'I'll email you every day.'

I hear her sniff and know the tears have started. 'I can't believe my little boy is leaving me.'

'Little boy is almost as bad as poppet.'

She snorts through her tears. She glances up to give me a watery smile. 'You've got to allow me that one. I...I don't know when I'll ever see you again.'