Prologue
A pair of shaky hands sunk deep inside trouser pockets as the large gate clanged behind him. Aaron didn't hesitate for a moment, didn't even consider looking back. He immediately recognised the 4 x4 vehicle, Paddy and his mother standing uneasily outside, lopsided smiles gracing their faces. He took one unsteady step forward and then another, gradually gaining momentum and, when finally within feet of her, Chastity Dingle wrapped her arms tightly around his frame and paused against him. Aaron breathed in the familiar heavy perfume scent she always wore. Paddy grabbed at him next, the metal frames of his glasses pressing uncomfortably against Aaron's cheek as they embraced, but he didn't pull away.
"I'm so glad that's over," said Paddy. Aaron merely nodded. Chastity cupped his face, studying him intently as if she hadn't only seen him last week. He dipped his eyes. "You ready to return to the fish bowl, son?" He was, he knew this. Not in the beginning, not in those first days as he stared at the ceiling from his top bunk, and not even after a few weeks when he'd finally started getting used to the rules. Later though, at the end, as the hours dragged by and his ragged breaths echoed around the room, and as the ghost of his recent past filtered his mind's eye, curdling every ridiculous thought he'd ever had, then yeah, he knew he was ready.
Aaron took a last glance back. For six months, this had been his home, his address. He'd been staying at Her Majesty's pleasure. Six months for the homophobic attack on Jackson Walsh.
All because he'd kept his mouth shut.