"See you tomorrow dear", a co worker waved in my direction. I could only give out a weak smile and turned away. After clocking out, I picked up my bag, did my very best to avoid any of the supervisors, and ran out of the office.
Thoughts ran through my mind as I hailed for a taxi. Manchester is pretty dull for a new year, and no one clearly has any sense of directions because the pavements are choking with people.
Barely getting a taxi, I looked out the windows. Christmas decorations are finally being removed. Traffic is getting busy because everyone has had a great time spending the holidays with family. Everyone, except me. Aria Davenport the lone ranger. In about 20 minutes, the taxi arrived at my apartment (after frequent stops and misdirections). "Here please", I said and handed over the cash. "It's supposed to be 5 pounds miss", the driver replied.
Staring at him blank minded, he pointed at what was in my hand.
2 sterlings and a hairpin I don't recognise.
I apologised and replaced it quickly. "Aria!", the landlord yelled, "you still owe me last month's rent!".
Yeah heads up, I have a habit of not remembering names.
"I promised you that when I get paid you'd receive it".
"So when is it?".
"You'd know Mr Landlord, but for now you need to relax please".
Making sure I don't infuriate him, I calmly patted his back. And guess what? He cut off the electricity supply for my room.
Marlon(my cat) was standing at the door. "Marlon, move". He only meowed and stared at me. "Marlon i really don't have time for this". He decided rather, that it was the best time to rub on me.
The only thing I could do was carry him inside. He had messed up the room as usual, since he has a fear of the dark. There were a few broken plates, torn couch pillows, and a broken bedside lamp.
Well, it couldn't be worse, I thought and opened the fridge. Rummaging through the quite empty fridge, luck strucked.
Instant noodles.
Marlon strutted beside me as I went to turn on the stove. There were lights beaming through the room, so it was easy to navigate around to search for flashlights. I hurled my towel across my shoulders and headed off to bathe. And dear Marlon wasn't making my life easy in the bathroom; scratching the glass and meowing as loudly as he could as if I had abandoned him.
"Marlon", I said as I finished bathing, "I think you better learn how to talk, because why would you be crying out loud like that". He only meowed and jumped out into the balcony. I looked out into the view.
If only someone could adopt me. If only I wasn't handed over to foster care.
Being an orphan is tough, and no one adopted me. In fact, from what I last heard from the owner of the orphanage was she saw me at her home with a letter from my so-called mother that said:
"Keep her safe. And no matter what, she can't be adopted. Her father would come for her".
And did she abide by it? Yes, to the point where after 'my father' who supposedly searched for me for years(I was 10 by then) came for me, I ran from his home after a week because apparently he wasn't my real dad.
Marlon scratched my plate, bringing me back to reality. Noddles aren't really my thing, so I handed it over to him to eat.
"Aria, can you come out for a moment?", someone called out to me. "Who is it?", I enquired. "Just come out damnit".
Confused as to who would talk to me rudely(not that I minded), the door was opened. "Mr Landlord...". " Happy birthday. I'm sorry for cutting off your meter earlier".
I flared at him, as well as noticing the small pie he had on his palms.
"Isn't it your birthday?", he asked. "Yes", I replied, "but I haven't told you anything about it". "It's in your documents", he grinned at me.
"So you're spying on me?", I growled and crossed my arms. His expression changed, "I was told to watch over you. You need to understand".
Enraged, I slammed the door at him.My heart raced, and after yelling my thanks to him for remembering my birthday, I ran to the balcony and slumped onto the floor, sobbing. I had drinks somewhere , and with an unknown force, I got up and took the leftover beer I had in the fridge. After gobbling it all down, i cried again.
After leaving the orphanage, the owner thought it would be a great idea to let someone watch over me till she was assured that I was safe. For starters, turning 25 means a lot of progress. Sure, I'm a bad person to converse with and I'm fond of getting out of group events, but to live without being loved, tell me how was my existence made any easier?
My balcony is literally there, begging for me to jump. The world is beautiful, but I don't belong in it.
Marlon is really my ride or die. I had him recently, and he's been that soft light on my darkest days, that is not to say he's an easy going cat. The lights of Manchester are glimmering like star rails in the sky, and he is calmly sitting on the balcony rails. I know crying is not the best option here,but I can't help it. Realising that I might start screaming as well, I rushed back inside and laid-back on the bed.
The envelope on the side of the bed is still there, some invisible voice telling me to peek at it. The landlord said it was from a friend of mine, but last I checked, I dissolved all friendships I made at the orphanage.
Sleep was my only option.
Wait, how many minutes has it been?
Everywhere was suddenly dark. Wasn't the lights supposed to be back?
I looked below me to realise that I wasn't on my bed. Not in my room. Not in Manchester.
The ground was swarming with stars, and the sky was pitch black, but I could see clearly that there was a white light way ahead of me, and someone was there.
Someone. Was. There. Maybe the beer has finally made me insane, ugh.
"Who's that?", I yelled as I tried to figure out who I saw. "It's me Aria. I'm here", was the response.
Who's here, my mind racing to figure out who that was. I could only see brown hair...brown hair?
BROWN HAIR!?
"MOTHER!?", I called out to the stranger. "Yes Aria, I'm here".
Nothing else came into my mind but to run. I ran, but the space was getting farther away. "No, don't go, you have to come back!", exerting my strength and yelling at the top of my voice.
Suddenly, I was falling. Not just falling, but everything was closing around me.
I couldn't help but cry again. I can't lose her here too, whilst I'm still dreaming. I could just try and imagine her close to me, I thought, then she'd be with me forever.
"Are you sure you want to dream that?"
What? I looked around and only saw a small light in front of me. I was still falling, so it's strange to see something still in front of me, and of all things, a peculiar light.
"I ask again, are you sure you want to dream that?", it asked.
"Of all absurdities how come you're talking to me?".
"Did you really ask that question?", the light chuckled, " That's interesting. You're not afraid".
I shook my head. "Why should I be afraid? It's just a dream", feeling proud of my response.
"Then do you wish to see your mother?". " Who wouldn't want to?! I need to see her".
The light twirled around me. "Then go and look for her", it replied. Aiming to grab it, I stretched out my hand. It dodged, but coincidentally, it hit my face.
Then I woke up to a girl about 5 years of age shaking me. "Aria! Aria! Wake up!", she yelled.
"Get off me", I yelled back and pushed her. She started to whimper, and feeling guilty I got up to hug her. Then it occurred to me.
Who is she? Where am I? And why the heck am I her height? And I particularly ignored the fact that my voice became a little bit chirpier.
"Uhm, can I know who you are?", I asked. "You're kidding me right?", she replied back in a questionable tone, " it's me, Avery. Remember?", pointing at herself. "Avery?". "Yes. Madame Dupont said we should come for breakfast ".
Madame Dupont? Avery? I'm confused. I don't know them, but my guts are telling me they're to be trusted. "Oh BTW, since you forgot, your morning clothes are there", she pointed to the closets at the end of the room. I nodded and headed to them. "BATHE ARIA", she yelled and held me back. "Bathe?". " Yes! Oh c'mon you've forgotten again?"
Again? Wait have I been here before?
She dragged me out of the room, down the stairs(looked like we were on the second floor) towards a different room. The bathroom, apparently.
"I'd stand here and wait", she beamed at me, showing off her teeth. I couldn't help but laugh as I entered the bathroom.
Then it struck me. I wasn't imagining things when I realised we were the same height. I was short. No, I was a child again. Not just any child, but my younger self; brown curly hair, tanned brown skin, grey eyes. I was still Aria, not the 25 year old adult, but the chubby baby of 5 years.
In an unknown place.
With unknown people who surprisingly knew me.