Not great. I won’t be able to afford to live here once my redundancy pay runs out.
I’m sorry.
It’s okay. I thought that would be the case, but I needed to be sure.
What are you going to do?
Take up my parents’ offer of moving in with them for a while. I’m going to hand my notice in on my flat tomorrow. I probably won’t stay here for a month, though. The sooner I can start saving money, the better.
How are you feeling about it?
Okay. It’s a temporary backwards step. I’ll move forward before I know it. Fingers crossed anyway.
Keep up the glass-half-full mentality, and you will.
I’ll try. I’m not as good at it as you are.
Hit me up whenever you need a reminder.
Will do. Anyway, we’ll get to meet in person at last.
We will.
I’m looking forward to it.
So am I.
CHAPTER3
HARU
“That’s it then.” My flat is empty, and a hole in my heart threatens to overwhelm me.
Dad squeezes my shoulder. “Come on. We’ve got a long drive.”
I’m not ready to go. My flat was tiny, but it was home, and it was mine. Well, it was rented, but it was still mine. Now I have to walk away from it.
Dad coaxes me to turn around, pulls me against his chest, and pats my back. “I’m sorry.”
“But you and Mum will be glad to have me home?”
He cracks a smile. “Yes, but we know it’s only temporary. You’ll be flying high in London again soon.”
I do one last walk around to ensure I haven’t left anything, and then I lock up for the last time. Dad hired a van to transport my furniture to secure storage in Leeds. The rental fees are cheaper there. The only things I’ll have while I stay at my parents’ are clothes, essentials, and Arthur the cactus. We drop the keys to the flat at the letting agent and then start the long drive home.
We’ve barely hit the M1 when Kyle texts me.
Kyle
How are you holding up?
He knows this is moving day and that I’m not happy about it.
We’re on the road.
How are you feeling?
I’ve been better. My dreams are up in smoke.
