MEMORIES OF TOMORROW

SIMPLER DAYS

Author's note: This story contains strong language in some parts. This book deals with topics that may be sensitive to some audiences such as suicide, drugs, alcohol and basic teenage dilemmas.

Reader's discretion advised

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Morning five-thirty. What a wonderful time, the entire city in its glory starts to awaken from its long night of slumber. Starting with the schools across the country. I study at Wood Moor High, an all-girls school. I've been here since I was old enough to go to school.

I love going to school. Odd. I know. But it's not for the books and teachers...and the endless assignments that I have yet to complete. But rather for my friends, some I have known for ten years...others simply ten months. But I adore each one. Don't tell them I said that.

"LeeAnn! The bus is almost here! Get out!" My mom yells. My dad helps my sister with her bag.
"Bye sweetheart! Love you both!" He says.

I grab my lunch and stuff it in my bag before running out the door. Then I remember and turn around give my mum and dad a peck on the cheek before scrambling out the door once again. My younger sister Liz follows.

I make it right on time, just as the bus is about to pull away. I scramble onto the bus with a broad grin.

"Good morning uncle!" I tell my bus driver. "Good morning!" He replies with a smile.

I reach my empty seat and sit down with a sigh. The air conditioning blows onto my face, the smell of the morning air fills the bus as I pull my sweater around me. My sister sits a couple of seats in front of me.

At the next stop, a few of my friends enter the bus and we all spend the twenty-five-minute drive to the school gossiping about our average lives.

Sometimes, there is less talking and more sleeping or staring out the window as the middle east sun graces us with its warmth in the frosty morning air.

My final exams approach at a fast pace, next week to be precise, my anxiety levels sky-rocket at the mere thought of it. I push the thought out as we arrive at our school.

A huge establishment in the middle of the desert. But it is beautiful to the eye of the beholder. The building is huge and has all the necessary facilities, beautiful plants grace its entrance, our bus is one of the first to reach the school. We have to wait another ten minutes on the bus before they let us out. 'Safety reasons'.

I rush out and head to the bridges. The massive school has three bridges that enter strict away into the second floor. Although the climb there is a tad bit strenuous. I race up the stairs and head to my classroom.

I'm the first one there, I pant lightly and drink a little bit of water and roam around the halls as students begin to trickle in.

My friend Hazel is one of the first to arrive, we both begin to chatter animatedly about our favourite TV shows, soon my other friends reach.

I and my good friend Daryn run in the hallways to find our classmate who never fails to get us cookies.

Cookies for breakfast! It's a treat. So we lie in wait for our classmate and pounce on her when she's insight.

At eight o'clock sharp the bell rings for classes to start before which we all stand for the prayer and national anthem. On Tuesday mornings we have an assembly. But as exams are in a week, they have excused us of this tiresome ritual.

I and the gang sit together whenever possible talking and talking and more talking. I and my good friend, Neva, of ten years share a common love for books, football and coffee. She is a true keeper.

Hazel is the artist of the group, hands down no argument. Shreya is another friend of mine, the achiever of the group, her grades are absolutely stunning and rightly so, she works hard for them.

Tim flies as teachers come and go, conducting revisions of the chapters that will appear in the exams.

By lunch, we all are hungry, tired and restless. As soon as the bell rings we all run out the door. We spend twenty-five minutes talking, cracking jokes, eating and sharing food.

Then in another few hours school comes to an end and we head home. This time around the bus ride is more busy and loud. We talk about all things from studies to boys to complaining about the inefficiency of the air conditioning as the noonday sun beats down on us.

After getting home, I and my sister usually grab something to eat, turn on the TV for the afternoon TV shows and chill till six in the evening. Sometimes I and my friends spend a lot of our time talking to each other over the phone about things that we would miss out in our school talk sessions.

By six we would've showered and taken out our books to present a good 'image' for our parents who reach home after a gruelling day at work.

And sometimes when I feel like it, I even prepare them tea and snacks, being the amazing daughter that I am.

This goes on for a week, till the weekend. My below average but 'perfect to me' life. Hence I never expected or foresaw the wrecking ball that would soon hit me. Something that would turn my life upside down.

"Change is the only constant in life." This quote by Heraclitus would soon ring true in my life.

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