2) Not a Prisoner

Hayley reached the house and immediately headed for her room. Her mind was neither settled nor stable. So much had happened, all just in one day. She sighed deeply and then continued to instruct herself to remain calm.

Even after her consistent attempts however, this was proving too difficult.

She grew frustrated and then fell onto her bed.

She laid down flat on her back and stared up at the ceiling.

Hayley then closed her eyes, in the hope that it would somehow help. She had had enough practice numbing herself throughout her life and that was partially why this was bothering her so much.

She wasn't a stranger to awful emotions so why was this hurting her so much. She had lost people before, more than once, so what was different now?

The more she thought about it, the more the pain swelled up inside her. Her face remained expressionless but inside emotion boiled. Her body was exhausted but her mind awake. She wished to sleep but it seemed impossible to.

She suddenly found herself wishing to get away, get away from it all. She wanted to run, run non-stop and let everything out, clearly sitting here wasn't going to help.

She needed to do something.

This place wasn't going to be peaceful and the trauma of Davina's death was only making her feel even worse. If she was going to pull herself together, it wasn't going to be here.

She needed some space. She needed to get out of here.

On realising this, Hayley abruptly sat up. She swung her legs over the bed and stood up. She reached a drawer taking out some paper and a pen and began scribbling a note. She didn't want them to come looking for her.

I need some time to myself.

Please don't come and find me.

I'll be fine.

I shall be back.

Hayley

She placed the note and hoped they would appreciate it. She was fed up of being trapped like a captive.

She wasn't a prisoner, she had come here of her own accord, for the baby. If she needed some time out, she'd take it and so she left through the window.