The lights and sounds of a big city have always excited me. Coming from the slow and steady Cheshire, I knew that Liverpool would be a place where I could be myself and amerce myself into culture and a place where nobody bats an eyelid at anyone, pure and simple happiness and no judgement. You are who you are. A fresh start. At age 19 I moved there to start my University journey and also the journey into a new life.
A city for a student paramedic is like a playground to a child. A stabbing here, an overdose there and a 92 year old WW2 veteran thrown in for good measure. I knew as soon as I saw the LJMU website, this is where I was supposed to be.
I would have never thought 5 years prior that I would ever be in this position, I was struggling with GCSE Science, my life was pure hell and I needed anti-anxiety medication to get through the day (Not exactly the characteristics you look for in a paramedic, an nervous nelly with no clue about biology! )
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Mr Litchfield snarled in disgust as he threw our mock exam papers to the wooden desk. My head dropping down to avoid eye contact, my body flinching, almost as if I was subconsciously trying to make myself as small as possible, maybe enough that I would disappear. All my efforts were futile, he locked his sight on me, like a British Sniper on a Taliban target in Afghanistan. He strode towards me confidently, I was his target today.
"So Eillis, do you want to know what you got in this exam, seeing as though you are so quiet?" He said with hubris that would make Othello blush.
"Yes, sir." I said with the most pathetic of quietness.
"Oh really? Well, I wouldn't if I was you. I will go get your paper now and let everyone know.' He raced to his desk and picked my paper out from the bunch effortlessly, along with his long wooden ruler from the side of his chalkboard. He marched back towards my desk with purpose, shouting 'E' as he came. "A huge fail. Not so smug now are you Miss Andrews."
"I am not smug, Sir. I struggled with that test, I tried to rev..." Before I could finish my sentence a burst of air attacked my face before a boom of the ruler slapping the desk.
"You Miss Andrews are the FAILURE of year 10! I hope you are ashamed."
I was ashamed, but I went back to what I knew best. Respect the adult, be quiet. Don't say a word but under my breath I was saying 'Fuck you, you arrogant prick.'
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Standing amongst the beautiful bars and restaurants on Bold Street on my first week in Liverpool, I knew I was in a second home.
YOU ARE READING
Time Heals
General FictionAli is a woman in her late 30s looking back on her life, wondering what made her who she is today. She visits the places of significance to her and thinks about how things could have been much different. Based on a true story.
