Something Bigger

Chapter 1 (The Move)

Do you ever just wake up and realize that life is unfair. No matter what you try to do or how you try to live it, it always will be unfair. Take my current situation, currently in Manchester airport waiting for possibly the biggest change of my life yet, moving to Dubai. I don't really understand what possessed my mum to take this job offer, we were doing pretty well in Manchester, and the pay was pretty much the same as the one back home, but she did. She took the offer, and said something about "starting fresh and new beginnings" or whatever.

We trudged through the airport, almost in a hobo walk; 5am should never be the appropriate time to wake up. After getting through security and passports business, we settled in an isolated corner in our terminal, and I waited for my doom. Now you may be wondering why moving to one of the most well-known cities in the world was such a big deal for me, but quite frankly, moving itself was a big deal for me, I hated it, and I hated change. We had been moving ever since I was 3, but back then we had dad with us at least, and it wasn't so hard getting from one place to another. I miss him so much.

The 7 hour flight went by surprisingly quickly, which was a tad odd. Flights usually drag on for my not easily entertained self. After going through the standard checking in, luggage claiming, taxi waiting process and an extremely awkward taxi ride I must say, the taxi driver kept glancing at me and it was creeping me out, we finally arrived at our new home for the next 6 months or so. An apartment in a very hotel-like looking building. It was roomy; I guess you could say, except for the fact that it just felt vast and empty. I walked around for a bit, trying to get used to it, but it just wasn't happening. The one thing that caught my eye was the view, I didn't realise we were so high up, it was breath-taking. I was pretty sure you could see the whole city from here, so I instantly took out my phone and took as many pics as I could.

"Do you like it?" mum suddenly interrupted my train of thoughts, how I could take so many perfect shots with this view.

I just muttered a muffled "yeah" and asked where my room was.

I was still pissed at her.

Trust mum to give me the most cramped room in the house, don't get me wrong, it was marginally big, but there was only one window, and I liked light. The walls were white and plain, just how I liked them and that was it basically. I couldn't be bothered moving my belongings in so I just bought a pre-bought mattress in, chucked it under my window, and laid there for a while until mum called.

"Fay, come out for a sec" I didn't want to talk to her, it wasn't exactly the silent treatment, but I just didn't feel like it now, or today but she just wouldn't have it.

"I hope you realize I'm doing this for our own sake"

Silence. Great, a pep-talk.

"We need somewhere to start new, a lot of horrible things have happened, and I see the way your eyes.. they seem so sad and I just.. just"

No need for a sob story mum, I wanted the silence to be as awkward as it could get.

"I just.. though.. that"

Hiccupping. Professional.

She suddenly sobered up. Typical mum.

"You're starting school after tomorrow; I hope you get your act together before then"

I shrugged.

"I bought some food from the dairy nearby, it's on the kitchen counter if you want, and give me your phone so I can set it up, I'm going out for a bit"

I handed my phone and walked to the food, my stomach grumbling on the way. I nearly always had a tough time making friends when we moved; well I guess food would be my best friend from now on.

Just as mum was about to walk out the door I blurted out

"Mum do you hate me?"

It was supposed to be a rhetorical question but she replied.

"Of course not"

"Well then why did you this, what the hell possessed you to move us halfway across the world, the pay is the same and everything and don't give me your freaking sob story"

I was on the very verge of shouting now.

No reply.

"There has to be another reason"

I muttered more to the air than to anyone. The sound of the door clicking pushed me out of my thoughts.

That night I stayed up, it always took me a while to sleep in a new environment. It was quiet, like drop a needle and you would hear it quiet, and I just wanted to curl up and wake up a year ago from now, where I wouldn't be here, a completely different country on the other side of the world with no one but my stubborn, riotous mother. So I just laid there, until I heard a faint noise and pretended to be asleep, I felt a light kiss placed on my forehead before I eventually dozed off.