Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Sarah had her head in a magazine when Louisa came into their bedroom. She was reading up on how to create a flick with mascara and a black eyeliner, hoping to master it soon. One of the lads at school was showing a little interest in her and she wanted to make the most of what she’d got.
Usually she’d speak to her older sister about make-up – well, about anything really – but just lately Louisa didn’t have any time for her. Not since she’d met some bloke who lived in the country.
So when Louisa told her the news, Sarah wasn’t prepared for it.
‘I have something to tell you,’ Louisa said as she pulled down a large suitcase from the top of the wardrobe and placed it on her bed. ‘I’m moving in with Richard.’
‘What? But you’ve only known him for five minutes!’ Sarah protested.
‘It’s four months, actually,’ Louisa replied, unzipping the case. ‘You’ll know when you get to my age that love is a wonderful thing and can claim you in a matter of minutes. I knew from the moment I saw Richard that I wanted to be with him.’
‘Oh, please.’ Sarah made a vomiting motion. ‘There’s no such thing as love at first sight.’
‘How would you know? You’ve never been in love.’
‘I know but… I just think it’s a bit drastic to move in with him and be so far away. Do you have to go?’ Her voice became whiny. ‘I can’t cope here without you.’
‘Yes you can.’ Louisa stopped what she was doing and sat down next to Sarah. ‘You’ll be finishing school in a few months and it’s time to take care of yourself. And besides, I’m only moving forty miles away. You can come and see me any time you like.’
‘Yeah, right.’ Sarah huffed. ‘How am I going to get to you?’
‘On the bus, or by train and I’ll pick you up at the other end.’
Sarah said nothing as Louisa resumed her packing.
‘You should be staying here,’ she insisted. ‘I need you.’
‘You have to get used to being on your own sooner or later.’
‘But not yet! I can’t survive with only Mum around. She doesn’t care about me. All she wants to know is where her next drink is coming from. You shouldn’t want to leave me with her.’
‘Life isn’t fair, kiddo.’ Louisa folded a jumper up and put it in the suitcase. ‘I’ve had no fun yet and I’m twenty.’
‘I don’t want you to go!’
‘Give it a break, Sarah.’ Louisa sighed, her shoulders drooping. ‘It can’t always be about you.’
Sarah had the decency to look sheepish. Louisa was right.
It wasn’t all about her. But it was hard at her age to look towards the future without her sister close by.
Why couldn’t she have settled down with one of the men around the estate?
That would have been okay as she could have visited whenever she wanted to.
If truth be told, she was scared of being on her own.
Louisa was always giving her the odd fiver here and there and if she didn’t have anyone to turn to, how would she cope?
She was used to being in the house alone for long periods of time, fending for herself.
She was fifteen after all. But she wasn’t sure she could manage without Louisa around all the time.
She was her rock, her go-to person whenever she had a problem.
She had friends to chat with, but no one was like Louisa.
‘I’ll miss you,’ she said, standing up to hug her tightly.
‘I’ll miss you too.’ Louisa hugged her back. ‘But you can text me any time you like, to save your phone credit.’
Sarah sighed, sitting down again. She pulled her knees up to her chin and grasped her legs.
Maybe it was time she grew up and stopped being dependent.
She was aiming to go to college in September, make something of her life so she could leave the shitty estate she lived on too.
There were no decent jobs to be had around here.
She didn’t want to end up like Louisa, working in the biscuit factory on a conveyor belt.
Once she had left school, she would have the world at her feet. She was going places, she was certain. But first she would have to learn how to survive without her big sister.