The Next Morning
Alice hugged Shauna tight. Tears were streaming down both their faces.
"I'll try to visit again!" Alice said.
"You'd better, I'll try and see you too!" Shauna replied.
"Dunno why we're crying we've got face book and our mobies!" Alice said.
"Yeah I know!" Shauna said.
"I'm gonna miss you Shauna, you're the sister I never had!" Alice told her.
"Same here, I'm going to have to leave for school or Mr Bamborough will have my guts for garters, you remember what he's like don't you!"
Alice smiled, "Yeah! Give him hell for me yeah!"
"I will, I'll give them all hell for ya, then tell them your asking after them. I bet no-one in Bristol can handle you!" Shauna said.
"Too right!" Alice replied. "Goodbye Shauna!" Alice added.
"Bye Alice take care of yourself, and that gorgeous Danny too. I'll be waiting for my invitation by the way." Shauna said.
"For what?" Alice asked.
"The wedding." Shauna replied grinning.
Alice smiled, "You're a divvy but I love you mate! I'll ring you when I get home!" Alice said.
"You'd better or I'll send out a search party down there and the first place I'll get them to check is Danny's bedroom!" Shauna said and wiggled her eyebrows.
"You've got a dirty mind!" Alice told her
"The best way, now I really gotta go. Take care!" Shauna said and walked off.
Alice walked back into the house and sat at the dining table. She was soon joined by Mrs Carr.
"Shauna told me about your father!" Mrs Carr said.
"She shouldn't have done that, I told her that in confidence!" Alice said.
"She's worried about you, she said that he'd got worse since you moved to Bristol!" Mrs Carr said softly.
"I can handle it!" Alice said.
"Your welcome to stay here as long as you want!" Mrs Carr told her.
The urge to accept the offer overwhelmed Alice.
Alice straightened her back and shook her head. "I've got to go back. It's not just my dad. I've got to face my problems, all of them!" she said determinedly.
Mrs Carr cocked her head and smiled. "God you look so much like your mum at the minute!" she said.
Alice looked shocked then whispered, "Really?"
"wait here a minute." Mrs Carr said and hurried out of the room. She returned with a small photo album. She handed it to Alice she opened it and looked at her mother as a young girl.
"Oh God" Alice said. "Where did you get all these?" she asked.
"I got in contact with all our old friends. I had planned to give you this but your father just up and moved you before I could." Mrs Carr said.
Alice looked through the pictures silently. Mrs Carr stopped her at one picture, it was one of her mother with her arm around a young girl. It took Alice a moment to realise it was Mrs Carr. She then pulled out a picture of Alice and Shauna and placed them side by side.
God the pictures was identical!
"Look!" Mrs Carr said.
Alice did, it was like looking into a mirror. The same laughing blue eyes and little half grin. Even the pose they adopted. The only difference was Alice's jet black hair which she'd inherited from her father.
"Alice you are your mothers daughter in every way, no more so when your determination is shining through! I'm proud to call your mum my friend and if you need anything remember I'm here for you. You have family right here ok! Your never alone!" Mrs Carr said.
She pulled her close for a hug. "If your dad ever gets out of hand ring me and me or Steve will be straight down to come and get you ok. Don't suffer though it, you don't have too!"
Alice smiled. "Thank you" she went to hand her back the photo album
"It's yours." Mrs Carr said.
"I'll treasure it!" Alice said.
"I know you will. Stay safe Alice!" Mrs Carr said and left.
Alice grabbed her bag and departed too.
The first place Alice went too was Glasgow city centre. She'd had an idea of a present to get Danny. She walked into a shop and picked up 2 shirts. She took them and got some writing printed on the back. She grinned as she paid for them. Danny was gonna love it! She thought. She bundled them into her bag and went to the bus stop to the cemetery. She didn't necessary want to take this final trip but she needed too. She was technically going to say goodbye to her mum for what could be the final time. She didn't know when she'd next be up in Glasgow, if ever! This was going to be so hard, but her mum had told her to face your challenges. Not to hide from them. Plus she'd never forgive herself if she never got the chance to say a proper goodbye to her mum!
Alice walked through the cemetery gates and into the church grounds. All was quiet and peaceful. She walked to the little florists at the gates. She picked up the biggest bunch of flowers she could see and a single red rose. She then walked up to her mothers final resting place. It was only 12:30 so she still had plenty of time with her mum. Her mother lay below a tree, she was shaded by rain and the sun. A single ray from the sun split across her headstone. The writing gleamed.
Here Lies Charlotte Collins
Fell Asleep 15th August 2009
Beloved Wife and Mother.
She lives on in every life she touched.
X
Alice placed the flowers in the vase by her gravestone, she wiped the gravestone too.
"Hey mum. It's been a while since I was last up. I hope you know that I wish I could come up more often - but Bristol's along way away you know!" she laughed nervously.
She sat on the grass opposite her mothers gravestone at her mothers feet.
"I wish you were here mum, I need your advice so badly! There's a boy involved, of course. There always is these days! His names Danny, I don't know what to do. I think I love him, but how do I know. I asked Missy and Shauna but they were no help!"
A slight breeze blew.
"I like to think you'd like him. He's so cute and funny and smart and we have so much fun together! Did I mention he's gorgeous too." Alice asked. "If you wanna give me a sign you like him I won't say no!" she said and laughed, like that was ever gonna happen.
A small breeze blew again and a conker fell on her head, Alice jumped then laughed. "Is that me getting your approval. You always said you had to hit me on the head to get something to penetrate my skull!
I've been thinking about school and things. I swear I'm not gonna let people get to me anymore, I just don't know what to do when they badmouth you! You're the best mum anyone could ever ask for! I will try to hold my temper through, that's all I can do. You always said if I set my mind to something I succeed."
Alice stayed at her mums grave and chatted with her for a while. They just talked about inconsequential stuff. Her new school. The weather. Her new house. Stuff like that. The stuff other people just mention in passing. She told her mother every single tiny detail she could think of.
She checked her phone. "I've got to go now mum, got a train to catch. I love you, you know and think you're the best mum ever!" she went I her bag and pulled out a laminated piece of paper. There were punch holes at each side. She pulled a piece of ribbon through the holes at each side. She tied it around her mums gravestone. Now there's always someone here with you!" Alice said. The picture she had tied around had been a collage of pictures of her and her mother throughout the years. She pressed a kiss to her hand and placed it on her mums gravestone.
"I know what your going to say, stay safe baby girl!" Alice said.
"I will - keep me on the right path mum I love you so much." she looked at the collage of pictures she tied around the gravestone. "No matter where I go or where I live, your forever in my heart!" Alice told her.
reluctantly she walked away. Then turned back. "Goodbye mum, or should I say see ya." Echoing one of the last things her mother ever said to her. Alice then walked away.
Later
Well Glasgow stayed true to form! She almost missed her train she couldn't believe it had took her 45 minutes to get from the cemetery to Glasgow central! Alice though it was fate telling her not to go back! Mrs Carr had told Alice she could stay here if she wanted. She sat at the window and watched the miles pass by. Well she was on her way back there. To her bastard father and the bitch Sarah! To a school she couldn't stand. Miles away from friends and family who actually loved her and thought she mattered. As she edged closer to Bristol she felt a cloud of depression fall over her. Would anyone notice if she didn't go home? Would anyone notice if she had enough of this life and decided to join her mother? Would anyone notice if she died? Probably not! Life would just carry on like normal. She had no doubt that Missy and Shauna and Mrs Carr would grieve her but eventually they would forget about her. Then she would be happy with her mother again. The train came into the station and interrupted her thoughts. She grabbed her bags from the shelf and walked towards the doors.
She stepped off the train and walked towards the exit. She then seen Danny waving like a idiot. She smiled and ran over to him. He pressed his lips to hers. It was a while before they came up for air. They stood facing each other holding each others hands.
"Now that was definitely worth coming home for!" Alice said.
He grinned, "I'm glad your back too, did you do everything that you needed too?" he asked.
"Everything that matters." she said.
"Well everything that matters to me is stood here with me holding me hands." he said.
Alice realised at that moment she loved him. She knew because if she hadn't loved him before she would have fell head over heels right that second.
"I've missed you!" Alice said.
"Me too, lets go home!" he said.
She grasped his hand and walked with him. She knew that she would follow him anywhere!
