The Only One stopping You Is You

Chapter 1

A severely battered, grimy- white delivery van revs its way slowly past me as my eye catches the glint of sunlight sliding gracefully along the top of the ramshackle contraption which was now picking up speed as it progressed up the quiet road, until it finally resembled a tiny dot in the far distance before it turned the corner, out of sight. With quivering hands, I jog along the stony, meandering path towards Ashdene Ridge care home; my hands wrapped tightly around a valuable velvet box, which sat in the centre of my quivering hand, bordered with silver beads of sweat which were aligned against the base of the object which captured a very important gift inside. I reach the red wooden door, and unusually as a result of my pestering nerves, I notice for the first time, the miniscule slightly grubby silver lettering on the tattered wood, which bore the words 'Ashdene Ridge'.

My racing heart now rapidly and suddenly transforms into a wildly fierce lion, as I fumble with the keys. As soon as I unlock the door, an expected raging racket of children laughing, shouting and crying hits me, which makes my brain take a while to get used to, compared to outside's peaceful atmosphere. Dodging my way skilfully past wailing Finn and jumping over sleeping Toni, I leap on to the stairs and hurdle over two steps at a time, eager to end this feeling and get giving the present over and done with. 

Now with the lion fit to bursting point, I push Mo's door open with great force and it swings swiftly open as if an introduction to clarify my entrance. I then jump into the room, astonished to find it empty without Mo's possessions. Replacing his toys and posters were dull brown boxes of all different sizes surrounding a small white bed which stood in the middle of the lonely room. There was a small heap on top of the bed and I could hear soft snoring and I knew it couldn't be Mo. I pulled the batman duvet to reveal a small curled up , vulnerable looking figure. Startled, he woke up instantly sitting up and looking innocently into my eyes. A strange wave of recognition  splashed over me as I realise who it was- Dexter, Sasha's brother. I remember him from the time he came to visit Sasha. But why was he here in Mo's room? 'What do you want?' he asks politely, ruffling his blonde hair and swinging his legs over the side of the bed, so that he faced the wall.  'Why are you here?', I ask, not answering the question. 'Because I moved in , and this is my room now. Mo left to live with his grandparents- didn't you know?'. I sit there for a few seconds, speechless. How did my best mate leave without letting me know? Or saying goodbye?

I go downstairs again and knock on the office door. Through the window I can see Mike, our lead care worker on the phone. I wait a while for him to let me enter. He signals for me to come in, and I push the door open gently, closing it behind me before I take a seat on the comfy sofa, which was placed directly opposite Mike's wooden desk. He takes his reading glasses off and sits on the edge of the desk and asks, 'How can I help you?'. 'Has Mo really gone to live with his grandparents?'. It takes a while for him to answer, looking at the floor the whole time as if the answer was written on the grey carpet. 'Yes', he says sadly, slowly looking up. My face falls, and Mike reads the disappointment written across my face. 'You knew he was leaving', he says and heads his way out, 'Yeah, in a couple of weeks', I say standing up too, following Mike as he leaves the office, heading for the kitchen. 'Can I go and visit him at least?' I ask, taking my phone out, starting to text Mo. 'No, not until he's settled in', Mike replies. 'Not at least for a couple of days,' he says carrying dirty dishes to the sink. I stand there, looking annoyed. 'No need to cry about it Bailey- it's not like he's your brother', Sasha says with a nasty smirk on her face. Frustrated, I reply, 'Yeah, like you'd know. Where's yours?' I add sarcastically, turning to head back up the stairs to my room.