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The Home Sweet Home

Charlotte

"You ready to go?" Benjamin says behind me. He's been living with me in this house for a couple of months since the big fight with April. She decided to move with her boyfriend, Thomas, ever since. I hardly see her on campus and to be honest, I really miss her. I've been trying to ring her to apologise for everything, but she didn't pick up. I guess it was the end of our friendship. 

 "Yeah, I'm ready," I say, turning around to find Benjamin with a big bag and the car keys. 

We're leaving to my parents at Mincing Lane, Chobham, for the Christmas and to tell them the big news about the bun in my oven. It's sad actually that Benjamin is the one that accompanies me to meet my parents, instead of the father of my child, Adam. 

I haven't heard anything from Adam since the last time I rang him to tell that I'm pregnant. I didn't even know where he is. He just disappeared. I've been ringing him thousand times and visited his house, but I couldn't find him anywhere. Benjamin, on the other hand, is my mental and emotional support. He's the one that sticks with me since the day I knew I was pregnant and he always takes care of me ever since. He even accompanied me on the first time of the doctor appointment. 

"Do you have everything?" He asks before locking up the door. 

"I guess I am," I answer, giving him a little smirk.

"We're ready to go, then!" 

At first, I didn't want Benjamin to accompany me to my parents. But he insisted because I'm pregnant and he said it's not good for a pregnant woman to travel alone. 

I get on the passenger seat of Benjamin's White VW Tiguan SUV. Our ride will be long and tiring and I already made a playlist for our journey to Chobham. I hope Benjamin doesn't mind with the taste of my music. 

We ride this white cocoon over the earth, my eyes on the trees that grow in their infinite patience, breathing out our oxygen. I feel the movement of the wheels over the road, following the curves and greeting each slope in its smooth way. My playlist has been played for about 30 minutes and Benjamin hasn't complained about it yet. He even sings along with me too. 

After an hour of drive, we decided to visit the rest stop to buy some munch and fill the petrol tank. 

"Would you like something?" I ask, stepping out of the car. 

Benjamin thinks. "Walkers Crisps and Jammie Dodger, please," he says, looking at me and smiles like a little kid. 

"Alright," I respond, walking toward the store to buy what he wants. 

The store is about 15 metres from the petrol station. There is a sign in the window that shows some discount or something. I push the door and hear the bell above me rings. The inside of the store is long and wide, almost a corridor with shelving spanning both sides. I walk myself among the shelves, trying to find the snack section. 

After I fill my shopping basket with crisps, sweets, and some sodas, I walk myself to the cashier and pay. By the time I walk out of the store, Benjamin already finishes with his petrol and we're ready to go again. 

We still have one and a half hour left to finally get to Chobham. I can feel my eyes already heavy and the smooth movement of the car really makes me sleepy. I take my eyes off from the road and rest my head on the window. 

The music that plays on the tape is Ed Sheeran's One. I've heard this song a thousand times before and never enough. The chords are like a well-worn path, the velvet voice brings the lyrics, words as familiar as the voice of a trusted lover and after a time the Sandman comes to heavy my lids. I feel the shuttering of my synapses, the quite lure into sleepiness. As each limb becomes heavy and my heart slows to a more peaceful beat, the comfort of this SUV seat helps me fall asleep.