First Step In New York

Looking back he often wondered where it all started, was it when he found out the truth for the first time? Or perhaps it was his bizarre meeting with the blonde haired grey eyed girl that he had come to care for so much. Lurking in his gut and waiting unbidden on his tongue he knew the real answer. Deep in his core he knew that everything started when he first arrived in New York. The city that never sleeps. The city that helped him discover his true identity and the city that turned him into what he was today: a monster.

The few moments he remembered vividly from his rapid departure from his previous residence was the stench of alcohol stinging his nose and even clearer he could smell the anger rising in his step father just waiting to be poured out and dished on the mother and son like the alcohol from one of his beer bottles. He remembered clutching tightly to his mothers waist as Gabriel shuffled his way towards them through the hurdles of litter scattered around his apartment. More importantly he also remembered the resounding smack that echoed across the room like a gun shot. Eyes wide in fury, breath heavy with liquor he showed the both of them the exit to his apartment all right.

"Mummy?" He asked, uncertainty lacing his voice at the sight of her crumpled form. Sally Jackson straightened herself and raised her head a little higher.

"Come on Percy." Her words confident and bold.

"Mummy?"

"I said come." And he had no choice but to follow her.

After half an hour of constant fidgeting and squirming in the back of a taxi Percy finally plucked up the courage to ask his mother just where the hell they were going. She eyed her son for a moment and smiled, and Percy swore he could feel her smile soothing him gently. For that was Sally Jackson. She didn't even have to touch him for him to feel her love.

"To a better future." She said quietly. For the rest of the journey Percy didn't squirm one bit.

One long plane journey and another taxi ride later found the mother and son standing outside the door of a modern apartment with the number 27 in bright gold. Sally stood with the her suitcase grasped tightly in her left fist, a key grasped even tighter in her right fist, and her heart full of dreams. Despite the confidence she had shown earlier, familiar doubts began creeping in to her mind gaining residence there like evil manifestations. Perhaps the little boy beside her knew this for he gently held her tightly fisted hand, squeezed the key out of her grasp and unlocked the front door. She looked at him and he gave her a reassuring smile for even though he had no idea what she had planned, she had planned it for the both of them and for him that was enough. Together the two of them stepped over the threshold.

The apartment immediately felt like home to the both of them. Maybe it was due to the lack of Gabe's presence but they both felt that much calmer when they explored the rooms. It wasn't overly stunning or amazing owing to Sally's bank balance however it oozed comfort and welcomed them as they dropped their luggage and Sally shut the door.

"Well? What do you think?" Her question gently arrived to her son's ears and when he turned to look at her, his eyes brimming with joy she heard his answer just by looking at him. It was a two bedroom apartment, neither room extremely big but still enough for the both of them. Percy's room he noticed was a light blue in accordance to his favourite colour. It seemed that most of the furniture had already been left there by the previous tenants that had already moved out, which was lucky for them as they didn't have to buy much now. Wheeling his suitcase into his room he shut the door and changed quietly. He marvelled at the euphoria of having his own room. 7 year old euphoria was powerful indeed. Not having to share with a drunk abuser was a major part of the satisfaction he was feeling but for another it was the idea of having privacy and unrestricted freedom that made him feel giddy.

When he came back out he found his mother sitting on the brown sofa in the main room with her eyes closed. It was one of the first times in his life that he had ever seen her look so peaceful. He sat beside her and she put her arm around him for comfort.

"Listen honey." She looked at him with eyes full of love and he gave her his undivided attention. "This can be a fresh start for both of us. You can make new friends here and I can work on my novel and we can start our new life here without Gabe." Her words brought comfort to his heart and he nodded in agreement. He couldn't explain the elation he felt. It rendered him speechless and made his tiny little heart burst with happiness. He felt as though he was now in a bubble of joy that would only climb higher. It took exactly seven years for that bubble to burst. And when it did boy did he have a long way to fall.

Hi there, this is the first time I have tried a story like this and it had been playing in my mind for quite a while now so please review and tell me what you think of it. There's a lot left to come and hopefully you all like it.

Oakleaf Girl.