Short Stories

Writing Challenge - Day 1

1. The furthest away from home you have ever been

Dear Diary,

The furthest away from home I had ever been physically was South Africa. Cape Town was warm and different to the dreary winter back home in the typical English weather. With sandy beaches and a cool breeze, relaxation was almost definitely achievable in the resort like paradise. An apartment on a hill, a stunning view and a small community pool. Enough space and comfort for a small family like my own. Despite the crime, because every country had it, the quiet bliss of the African summer sun was like a warming embrace on my pale white skin, so warm that it would eventually turn red, my body's way of reminding me I would always be British. 

To go to Cape Point, the southern most part of the country was an adventure, travelling through Camps Bay and witnessing baboon after baboon climbing around, nosing through cars and litter, ogling at the multicoloured people passing by. A fun, sunny excitement which countered the glum disappointment of a long Monday at school, trapped indoors by bad weather and below freezing temperatures, escaping to the sun was an all new freedom in itself.

In all honesty, I used to think that moving house made me feel the most homesick, the furthest I had been away from home. Because home is never just the place, it's the people, the memories and the feelings. It's the life you have and community you lived in. Moving makes that disappear. You start again with nothing, create a house and home out of what you have brought with you and learning from what you left behind. Because to create home again was a hard and difficult thing, and it took time and effort. I faced problem after problem trying to reach a place where I could finally call the new place my home, but once I reached it, I finally realised that I had changed like my home and was actually closest to home now more than ever.

However, the furthest I had really been was the clouds above, soaring through stars in my imagination, drifting, floating, not wanting to sink to reality below. 

In my dreams and my occasionally over imaginative mind I would visit new worlds, travel dimensions and live amongst people who were unknown and new, original creations of my thoughts and fluctuating feelings. Like a flowing river the dream would always continue, pushing me towards a new idea, a new world to live on. Other times I would travel to known worlds, known characters. I would meet Gods and myths, saviours and villains, every sort of person you could meet. The perks of being creative through music, art and writing was that my escapes and journeys were endless, they allowed me the ability to distance myself when it was needed. Gave me access to the weights that would ground me in reality, but give me the lock and key to release the chains that bound me.

Currently I am drifting between worlds. I am far away from home, but I am also quite near. I am travelling, searching for the purpose intended for me, stopping to face reality. My independent life started in a year's time and I would eventually go the furthest away from home I had ever been, alone, starting again, starting afresh, like a new chapter in a book, it was my next step in life that awaited me and you'll get to see it all with me,

Kayleigh.

I walked out of my apartment, a smile on my face as I passed my neighbour. I headed left, towards the park and towards the accumulating students stood at the centre. My friends were waiting for me, laughter and giggles spread among them already. "Kayleigh, over here!" Jessie called out. I grinned at the sound of her voice and walked a little quicker towards her and the others, the mere atmosphere of the party building up my adrenaline. "Look who finally arrived!" Johnathon teased, knowing I hated being late. "Shush Johnny, I was busy," I retorted. "writing in that diary again were we?" Ty poked. I huffed, "that diary is going to remember my life for me so I will always have something to remember. Maybe I should go erase your names from it since you mock me for it," I countered. The boys stayed silent and continued talking, this time to their respective dates. Ty and Jessie spoke quietly and calm, while the more over energetic Johnathon and Kelly giggled and spoke loudly, unafraid of everyone knowing all their business. And I mean all their business. 

I smiled quietly as I listened to either conversation from the sideline hoping for someone to include me while I waited. I glanced around, searching for other familiar faces, voices I would recognise, but to no avail there was nobody else around. Pulling my phone from my jean pocket I unlocked the screen and rechecked the plans for tonight, just so I didn't look so anti-social and out of place. Halfway through the plan, it buzzed as a notification dropped down. 'Look behind you :)' it read. I slowly turned, curious to how this person had my number and how they knew where I was standing. I squinted as I examined the treeline, a few birds and flowers, trees swaying in the gentle breeze, but no person.

I turned back to my friends, they had seen nothing, my act of curiosity being unnoticed by the four of them. "I'm going to the toilet, don't leave without me," I announced. The girls, Kelly and Jessie, looked up to acknowledge my words before turning back to their eye candy yet again. Knowing I would not be expected back anytime soon, I ran for the forest, not straying from the invisible straight line that I had previously turned in. Another buzz from my phone, 'that's right, keep going, you're nearly there!' I pushed harder in my running, sprinting so fast I almost fooled myself into believing I was Usain Bolt.

I stopped abruptly, well more like I was caught. Two strong arms pulled me back from the edge, from the frightening and lonely drop below. "You found me!" A voice cheered. I looked at him, blue hair, purple eyes, slim figure, but immense strength. A fantastical person with large, glorious wings that glittered in the setting sun. "Lily, come with me, come home my love," he spoke sincerely. I shook my head. "I'm not Lily, I'm Kayleigh," I corrected him. He frowned, "you have forgotten your home? How?" He asked, golden tears dripping from his beautiful eyes. 

"Sorry, but I've gotta go, my friends are waiting," I rushed, hoping to escape. "Come with me! You'll remember, your life is with me and our people. Lady Lily, your father and mother have been searching all this time," he pleaded, a singular slim hand held out towards me. "What do you have now which you value more. You have not fit in with these people, I have seen you stand alone in a crowd of people claiming to know you. But I truly know you, the way you hold your hands tightly when you are nervous, the way you write so delicately and honestly in your diary. I know you Lily, please."

Tears streamed in my eyes as I faced the truth revealed before me, and as I did so he wiped the tears from my eyes. They were golden like autumn leaves, a murky, darker colour than the boy's. "What do I have to do?" I quietly asked. "Jump Lily, and your life will begin again."

So I did. 

I realised that I was the closest to home as I'd ever be in my whole life.