o engrossed in sorting the accounts she probably didn't even realise how long she'd been sitt

n't even know you were sti

ve been at those b

as she leant back ti

ft of my shift, but I could sta

r system displays for the class that's coming tomorrow and set it

ow... Are you sure there's not

ast bit and we'll lock up together. I ha

ou mean wi

st, even on the days when I feel as tired as I do now, it's still so worth it to go home

lly sweet. How long have

g on thirty- f

lations, that's

s only seventeen and he was nineteen and i

rare it was to have what they have, and I won

llie, your tim

asn'

be the big deal, the be all and end all, but just keep liv

was nice to know that someone other than my friends knew all about that

n choices and you make yours!.... Now, we better g

ble and next to the book stands, dusting off the ones that had been in storage for too long. I didn't realise h

lie, let's

we left the building. I waited with her un

Andrea and give m

I will see y

lence in whatever room they were in together. It was as if they didn't even know the other person was there. I don't know how it got to this, and all I could hope was that he wasn't having an affair like

ded for the kitchen to see my mum sitting quietly on her own at the ta

too frequently over the last two weeks, since my dad started disappearing again.... Maybe I'm wrong.... Maybe h

ng. How w

Why are you just

as just

I asked as I sat in the

nd purposely brushed off whatev

um

darl

s goin

do you

is it?" I asked, trying to keep my voice sympathetic but beginning to feel my patie

he replied as sh

nothing, I know ther

usiness, it's between

also a part of this family. If there's so

defeat. "Ok. We're just having som

don't get it, we have three wage slips

aid with a slight crack in her voice, and I suddenly felt bad for her and thought it

ll, I'm hungry, why don't

, sorry El. I don't know whe

ride down to the chip

tried to smile, but it was the most fo

to the kitchen. I didn't even

mumbling about?" H

ening to you too dad

ented as he tried to

she got up from her chair, when an idea struck me

h have showers and get dressed up and go

lied with a sho

ed, or boogie it up, get groovy... whatever it is you do a

he wrapped her arms around herself as if sh

y!" dad claimed, trying

e them keep a table back for you. Just think... delicious food,

sked them to put on their hiking boots and climb the highest, snowy

g together, playfully flirting and dancing around the living room listening to their old records they had kept. Whatever had driven a wedge between them the last few mo

shoving them out. But I have to hand it to my mother. She is in her forties now, but she still looked stunning whenever she styled her

tside of our house. They both glanced back at me, looking rather nervous.

the grandfather clock ticking away, I started to imagine the life of the Cleary family as I got lost with each written w

on the story that I hadn't heard it chime before until now. A little smile rose on my lips, hoping

a quick blur of something flashed past the glass double doors that led to the garden. My eyes widened and my

ching? Is he waiting to get in somehow? Without hesitating, I quickly jumped off the couch and started darting around the house, checking that all of the doors and windows were locked. Room to room, I pulled at the handle

eeks, thoughts of him still came into my mind. But they were no longer out of curiosity, it had become more like a horror film, when you know there's a killer lurking nearby, but you never know when he's about to strike next. If it wasn't for me going to the river that day, none of this would be affecting my peace right now! My ey