birthday.”
“Thank you very much Simone. It’s beautiful.” This time, Ashleigh rushed over to her new friend, giving her a firm squeeze.
Holding up her wine glass Simone said cheers to Ashleigh.
“So,” Simone added. “How’s the flat hunting coming along?”
“Not very well. Either I can’t afford them or they’re too far away for me to get to work.”
“Couldn’t you find a job elsewhere?”
“I could but I really like it where I am. It was boring at first but now I’m starting to get to know the locals. Then there are the owners, Reece and Sam. Look what they bought me.”
Simone moved closer to have a look at the locket, admitting it was beautiful.
“They must think a lot about you.”
“Do you think so?”
She’d never thought about that. The more Simone listened to Ashleigh, the more she realised how unsure she was about herself. Even though she was only eighteen, Simone felt that throughout her life, there’d been nobody who’d given her any positive feedback, no reason for her to ever feel good about herself. More and more did Simone wonder about the relationship between Ashleigh and her mum. She didn’t feel comfortable asking her questions about her family. Somehow it would feel as though she was prying.
After their glasses had been refilled, Simone sat back and asked, “Was your mum alright with you being here? She didn’t want you to go out with her for a meal or something, did she?” The question had been a casual one but the look Ashleigh held on her face caused alarm. In an instant, her body had stiffened, seeing her face grow paler. Knowing she’d hit a nerve made her want to take back what she’d just said. “I’m so sorry Ashleigh. I don’t want to pry.”
There were tears now in Ashleigh’s eyes. She swallowed deeply. “My mum doesn’t have anything to do with me Simone.”
“Listen,” Simone began, “you really don’t have to tell me anything. I’m so sorry for what I said.”
“It’s alright. I want to tell you. I think it’s time.” For the first time ever in her life, Ashleigh felt brave enough to confide in someone. Maybe talking about how she felt would do her good. With that thought in mind, she began the marathon task of bearing her soul. The room was peacefully quiet, giving Ashleigh the sign that this was her cue. “For years, my parents have smoked and drank, with neither of them working. We live in a scruffy flat; it’s cold, dirty and smelly. Most days there is hardly any food to eat. Well that was up until I began to work. My dad used to hit me and my mum, but now he’s in prison for killing someone during a robbery. I thought my mum and I would be alright with him gone but we’re not. She’s drunk more often now and has started to …” The words she wanted to say felt dirty and shameful as they sat on her tongue. Simone didn’t have a clue how Ashleigh must be feeling, sitting there telling her all this. She placed a gentle hand on hers.
“You don’t have to say any more Ashleigh.”
“I do. I have to face the truth.” Her voice quivered, but even on the brink of tears, she found an inner strength to carry on. “My mum is an alcoholic and has started offering herself to men for money. We never speak about it. Never hold any type of conversations with each other for that matter. I suppose we’ve never had a normal mother and daughter relationship. All of my life, well as far back as I can remember I’ve lied to friends about who I am, where I live. They’ve never been to my house or me to theirs, even though I’ve wanted to so much. Just to feel part of a family means so much to me. I know someone else’s family wouldn’t have been my own but I just wanted to be a part of something so much.” After a slight pause to bite back tears,