Belonging Novel – It’s my thirteenth birthday. I don’t get any presents, obviously. I never have in this care home. Ian lets me go in the shower first, though, meaning I get the first bit of the fresh hot water. Once I’m out, I dry my hair and tie it back into a plait, then put my school uniform on. I wash my face and brush my teeth, then put on my coat and shoes. I begin the walk to school alone, forcing myself to ignore the excruciating pain in my back.
It starts to rain halfway there, so I pull my hood up and zip up the coat. I knew it’d rain. It always rains on my birthday. I get to school quickly and go to my form class, sitting in my seat at the back. I still have no friends, but I don’t mind as much anymore. I like to be alone. I’m used to it; alone is safe. There’s no chance of anybody hurting you deeply if you’re alone. After third lesson, I’m walking to my fourth class of the day (Spanish) when I hear my name being called over the intercom, telling me to come to the office. I frown, but begin to walk downstairs anyway.
When I get to the office, I see Officer. Lexus waiting there. I furrow my eyebrows. “Why are you here? I haven’t done anything.” I say defensively. “I know, you aren’t in trouble.” He responds. He motions for me to follow him, and he takes me over to the headteachers office. Worry burrows inside of me and I hold my coat closer to me. He opens the door, revealing the familiar office I’ve been walked to thousands of times. Only now it’s different, because sitting in one of the two chairs across from the headteacher is a man I don’t recognise.
“Anastasiya,” the headteacher says. “Please, take a seat.” The man turns around and looks at me. He’s tall, even sitting down, and something equitable to authority drips from him like a wet towel being strung out. His blonde textured hair sits messily on top of his head. His eyes are eerily similar to my own, being a familiar shade of dark green. His jaw is set hard, and covered in black stubble like he’s forgotten to shave it for the last few days. He’s wearing black pants and a white dress shirt, the sleeves of which are rolled to the elbows of his big arms.
His hands, adorned with rings, are about two and a half time the size of mine. He looks up at me expectantly. I look back at the headteacher, crossing my arms. “Why?” “Just take a seat, Anastasiya.” Officer Lexus says from where he’s still standing behind me. The man’s eyes cut to him, seeming to somehow darken. I sit down on the chair beside him, letting my backpack and coat drop to the floor in front of me.