Snippets

Safety

The front room light up like it was November fifth. Red and blue flashes bounced off the walls throwing everything in contrast to the pitch black I had tried to get. I stood frozen to the side of the window watching the scene unfold below, the road was blocked off as police and paramedics rushed to the bodies lying oddly in the middle of the road.

They would come and ask questions, they always did. I let out a sigh and let the curtain fall back in place, I wasn't in the mood to deal with this mess not tonight, not ever.

"What in the name of the Lord above was you thinking?" I snapped. The two black shadows that lay on my settee was quiet. Good. "Seriously Chris do you know what is going to bloody happen now?"

"Mila, please"

"No!" I yell and point my finger at him. Anger was far past what was running through my veins. "You are just plain stupid, you promised me, God Damn it Chris you promised me and you broke that promise" Tears threatened to fall and I let them, in the dark he couldn't see the pain he was causing me. "I suggest you go home and keep that idiotic head of yours down. No one had better find out"

"Mila-"

"I don't want to talk to you anymore tonight Chris. Go and take that sorry excuse of a friend with you"

I waited until the door shut before fully giving into the pain and tears. I sank to the cold floor and wept. What could I do? Chris was all the family I had left, After mum passed away several years ago He had done everything he could to keep him and myself alive, the only problem we had was having to move from city to city. Chris always ended up with a name for himself, tonight was no different.

A knock sounded at my door and I quickly wiped my eyes. I headed across the careless floor and opened the door. I had expected a cop at the door but boy was I wrong.

"What's wrong TJ?" Behind the door I grab the baseball bat.

"Did your brother do that outside?"

"No, when the gun shots went of Chris was here with that rat of a friend"

"You ain't lying to me are ya?"

"Do you think I would cover for that rat? Seriously TJ."

"Tell me why you're crying"

"My boyfriend dumped me because I live this side of the city, anything else?"

"What a tosser" Tj growled. His features turned from calm to murderous.

"Look, I want to go to bed-"

"It's fine, did you see who it was?"

I give a shake and go to shut the door. "Mila, look. I know we got off to a bad start but seriously" his hand holds the door open and I grip the bat harder "I'm trying to protect you both, I do care for you"

"Like I haven't heard that line before" I let the venom leak in to my voice and use all my strength and shut the door in his face.

I keep a hold of the bat and make my way to the bedroom. Looking round the dinky squat pad I knew the choice I had to make. I look to the red door that had been the place I stayed the last year, it never felt like home. Why stay?

I grab my overnight bag and pack all the belongings I own and toss them in. It was never much and for once I was grateful, it means nothing would get left behind. I jump on the bed and shove my hand into the rip in the mattress. The previous owner must have died and left it but I had added to the funds that sat nicely in the bed I lie on.

Nearly seven thousand in cash, it would have helped me get a nicer place or do this place up but I wasn't staying. Emergency fund is what it was and now....

The emergency was for me to get a life of my own.