Choose your future. Choose life.

Explanation

There was an awkward silence between the two of them.  They hadn't seen each other for god knows how long and now there were sitting in front of each other not know what to say. Alison didn't like the awkward silence, so she decided to fill it as best as she could.

'Soo...' Alison started, whilst looking over to her sister only to see Charlie nervously playing with her hands. She really didn't know what else to say at that point. The last time she had seen Charlie was when she was up for trial when she was younger. After that all that she heard of her sister is that she got out of jail, but then moved down to England, because she didn't like it up in Scotland anymore. Nothing else was said about the matter. She hadn't seen her for at least fives years. Maybe even seven years. No wonder her Scottish accent had dwindled after so long in England.

' I'm assuming mum and dad never told you anything about what happened.' Charlie stated, sighing as she looked at Alison for an answer.

'They said after you got out of jail, that you moved down to England cause you didn't like it up here. But that's all that was said.' Alison looked dumbfounded not knowing what else she was meant to know. She didn't know if was supposed to know anything else.

'So they forgot to tell you literally the whole thing, great.'  she bitterly laugh as she replied, not really expecting that much more out of her parents. It just meant it was going to be harder for Charlie when she told Alison the truth.

'What do you mean?' Alison asked with confusion written all over her face. She really didn't know what to say or think at the moment. Hell, she didn't know whether or not to believe anything that her sister was about to say.

'well for starters, they kicked me out of the house the day the police locked me up for further questioning, I guess they pretty much disowned me that day.' charlie paused for a moment, looking up to her sister only to see Alison looking straight back at her, silently asking her to carry on with what she was saying.

'Well you know that I was picked up by the police one day, cause they caught me stealing and they also found me with a shit tone of drugs. I was at the police station all day and in the evening the police gave me a phone call, you know the ones that they get in the films? Well I was able to phone just one person, so obviously I phoned up mum and dad and explained the whole thing that had happened and they just said nothing. They told me that if I ever get out of police custody to stay out of the house and never come back. Said I was a disgrace to the family or some shite along those lines. I didn't believe what they had said at first, it wasn't till I was let out on parole for a day and saw the rest of my stuff out on the streets right by our bins. I don't know how long it was out there for, but from the looks of it most of it had been nicked by the time I turned up. It was then that I realized that mum and dad had been serious with what they had said on the phone and after that I spent the rest of my parole time on the park bench wondering what the hell I was meant to do. After parole I had to go back in and had to start preparing for the trial. The police had talked to my parents apparently didn't want to help me and wouldn't put any money towards getting me a decent lawyer. I didn't have any money, so I had to settle for one that was given to me by the police. He was alright I guess, but I knew mum and dad could of afforded a proper lawyer, but they didn't want to help me. So when it was time for my trial and when I saw mum and dad they didn't even look me in them eye. It was when I was walking out to sit down, I remember it so well. I walked out and looked for mum and dad straight away and when I saw them they looked down and started to look somewhere else. It was like I was a total stranger to them. They had just turned up to keep up appearances I'm guessing and to keep up the look of a loving family; either that or they were there to make sure I was put away so they didn't have to deal with me. I hate saying it, but I do truly think they were hoping for me to get sent away and locked up for a while. Less to talk about and it meant that they could go back to the perfect family with you. I think you were the only one at the trial that truly wanted me to not to go prison, I'm actually surprised mum and dad brought you along. When I was sentenced I looked up to them for comfort and saw that they looked relieved. The moment I wanted to see them look sorry for me or something, but they let me down, again. They had a opportunity to come and see me before I was taken away and taken to prison, but they didn't. I was waiting for them for ages to walk through the door and tell me that everything was going to be okay, but it never came. When the door opened I thought it was them, but it was only the police officer to come and take me away. When I looked up to see who it was, I must have looked so desperate. desperately hoping that mum and dad would walk in, but they didn't. When he came over to put the cuffs on me, he looked sorry for me. Like he had heard something that I hadn't or something like that. Or maybe he saw mum and dad walk out with you and over heard them saying that you were going home. For some reason I kept on expecting them to visit me. I don't know why I was though, they never came in the end. Even if it was just once a year or something. Or just one time in time I was in there. I kept expected to see them walk through the visitors door, at least once, but they never came. Every birthday that I wasn't at home for, the Christmases, the Easter holidays, every time everyone else had a visitor, I had no one. I could see everyone felt sorry for me and I hated it. I would see everyone elses parents, siblings, husbands and whatnot come in, and sometimes I would make up conversations in my head that me, mum and dad would share if they came in. That was the closest I got to talking to them whilst I was in there. I think I even ended up writing to them at one point, asking for them to come and visit me or at least write back, but they never did. I bet they ended up throwing away the letter before they even read it. I was late coming out of prison, cause of bad behaviour; I would end up getting into fights with other girls here and there and then get into arguments with the guard's there cause I wasn't doing what I was told. I never used to do the jobs that they told me to do and never listened to anyone and looking back now, I think I was acting like a child that didn't get there way. Almost like I was acting out over what had happened between mum, dad and me. So when I did eventually come out the first thing I did was go to the phone box and call up mum and dad, I was really hoping they would take me back in or something. Even if they just let me sleep in my room for one night before they moved me on and kicked me out again. The moment they heard my voice they put the phone down on me. I stood there for a moment when they hung up, just trying to think of what to do next. They pretty much disowned me before I went in, but for some reason I must have thought that they would have wanted to hear me out and actually talk to me, but I really shouldn't of been surprised. I mean, after everything that happened and after them not wanting to see me before I got locked up. I really should of seen it coming. It took me sometime to sort myself out, but I finally found the balls to move on and get on with life. With the money that I ended up getting from begging on the streets, I got myself a train ticket and went down to London on a whim. I didn't know why London specifically, but I guess I just thought of it as a land of opportunities or something like that. I think I thought the further away I got from Scotland the better I'd be, but that was clearly a lie otherwise I wouldn't of come back. After I got down there I got myself comfy on the street and called it my home for a while. I spent all the money I had on the train ticket down there so I didn't have any money to get myself a room at a hotel or a apartment. I couldn't even afford to get myself dinner the first night I was down there, but that wasn't too bad I guess; it could've have been worse. The streets weren't that bad, I guess. They were dry most of the time and I was able to find some parts that didn't get cold at night which was a bonus. That's were I picked up my dog Didget actually. He was only a puppy when I found him abandoned on the streets in a box. I think someone didn't want him or something so I took him in. As he grew up he started looking out for me and helped me feel a lot more comfortable on the streets, kind of like I had my own guard dog which was nice. I wasn't doing that much on the streets apart from begging for money and looking out for Didget. So one day when this random man walked up to me and offered me a room to sleep in I didn't know what to say at first, I was a bit speechless. I didn't know whether or not to trust him. I hesitated at first before saying yes, but at that point I didn't know any of the consequences. I didn't really care I guess. I didn't really care about the consequences. The only person at that point I was really staying alive for was Didget. It wasn't like mum and dad would've cared, if I died they most probably wouldn't even find out, they wouldn't care. That guy that picked me up moved me  into the room within the day and made sure I was comfortable, warm and healthy. Took me to the doctors to have a check up and to make sure I was in perfect health. It felt weird for someone to actually care for me after all those years. At first I thought it was amazing, I got all this stuff handed to me and didn't really think about anything else at that point. The life that mum and dad had promised me before I fucked up finally started to look possible. It was about a week later that the consequence came. I really should have seen it coming. That guy was a manager of a strip club and what I'm guessing was also whore house; it seemed like a whore house to me anyways. I had to end up working there at the a strip club. It was a fair exchange I guess. I got off of the streets, and got a clean, warm and comfortable and I got a job with money; All I had to do was get on stage near enough every night and pretty much get naked, it wasn't too bad. I couldn't turn it down in the end. It was something that I couldn't really turn my back on it. Some shit happened here and there, but I just toughened up; grew a thick skin and kept my head down. You had to at that place; you couldn't just cry every time something happened or start screaming when someone touched you inappropriately. I guess it was just part of the job. After a couple years down there and after saving every last penny, I ended up getting enough money together to get a cheap flat up here in Scotland. I have to admit it, I was missing this place a lot. London was cool and all but nothing could beat the feeling of being at home. I was scared at first, but I somehow found the courage to talk to the manager and ask him about leaving and talking about wanting to move up to Scotland and he offered me transfer up to a place near here, it meant that I wouldn't be out of work and that I wouldn't be out of money at any point and I could keep up with payments for stuff like looking after the do, The price for moving back up here was to carry on working in that industry and in all honesty I didn't care, I just wanted to move back up here. It took a while for all the creases to iron out, but I finally got everything sorted. And fast forward a year and here we are now.' Charlie finished her story and looked to  Alison for a response. Alisons mouth was wide open and she looked shocked. She took a moment before replying to Charlie.

'mum and dad never said...' Alison started before Charlie interrupted. Alison all of a sudden felt horrible after hearing everything that Charlie had gone through. There parents never told Alison any of this, all she was told is that she wasn't coming back. At the time she hated Charlie for ditching her and leaving her with her parents but now she felt terrible for feeling that way towards her. If she had know what had happened she would of tried to help her sister as much as she could.

' Don't worry, I never expected them to tell you anything.' charlie smiled towards her, trying to make her feel comfortable with what just happened and what she had just told her.

'Well if its anything,  they didn't exactly raise a perfect child with me. I was at Swanny's tonight injecting all sorts.' Alison joked around with her sister, hoping to lighten the mood. Charlie chuckled slightly looking down to her feet before Alison continued.

'Are you still working at the place?' Alison questioned with what sounded like worry in her voice. She wanted to ask her that as soon as Charlie told her that she got the job down in London. Charlie looked at her sister, seeing the worry in her face. Charlie was quiet for a moment, not knowing how to word it or even tell her sister. What if she went around and told Sickboy? Or told Renton and then Renton told Sickboy.

'Charlotte, if your working somewhere dangerous I need to know.' Alison insisted taking her sisters hand in her, trying to silently show that she could trust her and trust that she will be there for her.

'Its not dangerous anymore. I work behind the bar, And even if something's went wrong I know how to look after myself now' and with that Alison had her answer. From what she just heard her sister had developed thick skin, which she guess in a sense was good. But never the less she was in what Alison thought was a difficult and maybe even dangerous position at work.

'Does Sickboy know?' Alison asked. Her sister looked up into her eyes straight away and slightly shook her head to tell her that he didn't know.

'He can't know though, if he found out I don't know what he would do. He knows I have a job, but he thinks I work in a bar which isn't exactly a lie.' Charlie pleaded to her sister at first.

'You really like him don't you?' Alison asked with a smile on her lips. In truth, Alison had always had a crush on the blonde boy and wanted to get with him, but she was happier knowing that he was with her sister and that they make each other happy. You just had to look at them when they were together and it would've spoke a thousand words of love. She was willing to put her feelings aside for Sickboy and let her sister and Sickboy stay together.

'I do, I really do, that's why he can't know what I do or what I've done' the older sibling asked.

'He wont hear anything from me' Alison reassured her sister. Smiling to each other there was a silent moment before they engulfed each other in a hug. It was like she had a little part of her back, a part that charlie was missing for a while.

' I've missed you' Charlie said to her sister.

'I've missed you too' Alison replied and went in to hug her sister. They both had there sister back and everything felt somewhat normal again. She had gotten the one family member back that she actually cared for and it was nice.

And with that, is was like nothing had changed between the two sisters.