Monday 30 April 2012

My Short Story


‘Letting Go’ by Charlotte Le Lohé
...

“When I look into his eyes it’s as though I’ve fallen into the bluest ocean. When his lips part to smile it always makes me smile too. When he clenches his teeth and his jaw flexes it gives me goose bumps. When he runs his hand through his hair I want to be in his arms. When I’m in his presence I feel complete.” There was a steely silence as I stood motionless, my lips quivering, looking down at the floor, and a second later the room was in hysterics.

“That’s quite enough class. Thank you for that rather...‘moving’ monologue Abby.” Mrs Green had her ways of making you feel like the most inferior human being on the planet, not to mention the stark sarcasm which rang in her voice.

“I don’t see what’s so funny” I mumble as I turn and walk out of the room.

I hated school.  It was a place where if you didn’t match up to a certain stereotype you were branded a loner, loser, weirdo, and cast-out. “Why me?” I had always wondered, not that it bothered me much; I liked my own company.

Walking out of class was not really allowed, but I did it all the time.

“Why do you let them mock you like that?” I carried on walking as he followed me; I could feel his stare burning into the back of my head.

“Why won’t you talk to me? I know you’re frustrated, but you always talk to me” he kept on.

“I just feel like being by myself right now, please just go” I muttered over my shoulder.
Feeling his hand on my arm I swung around, anger rising.

“Did you not hear what I said? Leave me alone, and take your hand off me!” I tried to control the tone of my voice but I couldn’t help it rising.

Over his shoulder, I noticed the door to the classroom I had walked out of open slightly. Mrs Green was standing there completely motionless, staring at me. It was hard to see her facial expression but her eyes displayed confusion.

I could think of nothing else to do but run. I kept running until all I could hear were the birds chirping. It wasn’t even a nice day. The sky was grey and everything had an air of eeriness to it, even the birds’ song. That day, time stood still. Being left alone with your thoughts can be lonely, only I couldn’t shake him from my mind.
...

“If you’re going out at least put a coat on, it’s absolutely tipping it down out there.” It always annoyed me how mum would do that, undermine my judgement… who wouldn’t put a coat on when it’s tipping it down outside?

I politely ignored her and headed out to his car. He always arrived at the right moments, my saving grace.

The headlights of the oncoming cars lit up his face with such radiance you would have thought he was centre stage in a play. I couldn’t stop staring at him. Maybe it was because I was in a world of my own that I didn’t process the screeching of tyres, the shattering of glass or the impact the car was having with whatever had come our way, but darkness filled my body so quickly anyway.

“We hope she’ll be very happy here as well as it being a stable institution for her.”

I hated having to sit outside the door. It always baffled me why parents never realised that you can still hear everything that is being said, just because they are speaking behind a closed door.  

“Well, thank you for your time Mr Cooper, I am most grateful for all you have done,” I could hear my mother reply in a distant voice.

In that moment, before the door to the office opened, two girls walked past. They both fell silent. As soon as they passed, one started whispering and I managed to catch a few words.

“That...girl...in......car crash”
...

I had been sat outside in the gloominess for hours now. A ladybird was slowly making its way across my hand; I couldn’t even find the energy to flick it off.

“I’ve been worried about you.” His voice came from a distance.

“You always know where to find me.” I looked up and there he was, standing in front of me; his hand was extended, waiting for me to take hold of it.

“I feel so lost and unhappy. But I don’t understand why; you’re here with me.” I took his hand and he pulled me up. His irresistible big blue eyes sparkled at me and a wave of peacefulness came across me. Nothing would ever be able to tear me away from this, from him.
...

Months went by slowly and I became another year older. One day a new girl joined my class. She must have been new because she came to talk to me at lunch. No one ever did that apart from him.

“Hiii, your name’s Abby, right? Can I come and sit next to you?” She did anyway.

“So, why are you sitting alone? Have you been at this school long? What classes do you take?” So many questions, it was making my head hurt. All I could notice anyway were the stares coming from all directions of the room.

PE was the next lesson after lunch. I always locked myself in the changing room toilet; I managed to stay skinny without having to exercise, I’m pretty sure most people thought I was bulimic.

“Why does she talk to herself all the time?” I overheard one girl saying as they all came clattering into the changing room.

“Didn’t you hear? A while back she was in a bad accident with her boyfriend. She woke up in hospital without a scratch on her and claimed she couldn’t remember anything. She had absolutely no memory of the crash. She was the only one who survived and never accepted his death. She still thinks he’s alive. I think she thinks we’re real too.”
...

The room was cold; a dull grey concrete coffin. The walls were stark, on one was a high raised miniature window with messy white painted bars and on the opposite wall was a heavy-looking iron door. The room was fitted with a wooden desk which was covered in illegible carvings, a chair, a sink with only a cold water tap, and a bed with minimal bedding. When I looked down, I noticed I was in a cotton nightie. It scratched at my skin. The buzzing sound which meant the door was opening hurt my ears and startled me. I cowered back in the corner where my bed was.

“Abby, it’s time for your shower.” A woman approached me. She was wearing a bright white uniform, I felt like my eyes were blistering looking directly at it. I noticed behind her stood a man. He was in an expensive looking suit, wearing dark rimmed glasses, holding a note pad and pen. He never took his eyes off me.

“Abby, come on, it’s time for your shower now” The women repeated. This time she was closer, too close, towering over me.

“I...I don’t understand” I managed to faintly reply back.

“What is this place? I’m supposed to be at school right now...you need to let me go back to school otherwise they will notice I’m missing” No one ever noticed I was missing, I thought to myself. I kept talking, I couldn’t stop talking and my voice grew louder and louder.

“Simon it’s happening again, she’s relapsing.” Everything was fuzzy and the room was spinning, I heard the woman speak those words and then the man came towards me. He was holding something, I couldn’t make out what it was but I struggled as the woman in white tried to restrain me.

The last I remember was a sharp pain in my arm, and then, as if by magic, the room began to fall away, leaving no one but me. I felt like I was in heaven. Tranquillity was all I could feel. Then there he was.

“I told you I was worried about you” His voice echoed.

“I can’t let you go” Was all I could say.



Wednesday 25 April 2012

A Short Story

Over the past couple of days when I haven't been looking and applying for jobs I've been writing a short story. It's something I want to enter into the Telegraph Short Story Competition - each month they choose a winner and then the 12 winners get the opportunity to go to London and meet publishers who may be interested in publishing the story. It has to be under 2,000 words, and I've just finished writing mine today. I have a few more days until it has to be submitted, so if anyone's interested in reading it and giving me their feedback let me know and I'll post it on here :) 



Friday 20 April 2012

Preparing For An Interview/Meeting

Next week I have an interview/meeting. I guess it's quite a big deal for me as he's giving me the opportunity to come and have a chat with him and if I impress then maybe he'll keep me in mind for up and coming jobs they may have available. 


I think it's really important to be well prepared, especially when you're trying to sell yourself and your qualities to someone so that you're unforgettable. This is what I'm going to do: 

  • Firstly, make sure I know my stuff - would probably look like a bit of a numpty if I turned up and didn't really know anything about the company he's working for!
  • Secondly, I need to have a main talking point - so for example mine is going to be how difficult it is nowadays for graduates to get jobs. He recently wrote an article in the Chronicle about it so I think that would be a good tact to go with! 
  • Thirdly, talk about myself and what I'm capable of doing - it's a good idea to recall previous work experience/internships and try to persuade him that I'd be a good asset to the company if they hired me. 
  • Fourthly, to always stay positive and smiley - nothing better than to work a bit of charm! 
  • Lastly, print off my CV and give it to him hand to hand - that way he has a hard copy of it there that he can use as a reference in case anything comes up. 

Guess we'll just have to see if this all pays off....

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Boredom...

So this is really starting to kick in...it sucks! What have I done with my day so far:
- Went for a run which wasn't that fun as I had to battle against the ridiculously gusty wind, then got home and did some more exercises. 
- Tidied my bedroom as there was a clothes explosion on my sofa.
- Read a bit of my book - Jodi Picoult 'Handle With Care' - have to say not one of her most thrilling novels, but still love her work anyway :)
- Searched for some more jobs...ahhhhhhh...that's all I have to say about that!
- And now I'm sat staring at my laptop screen - brilliant. 


If anyone else is feeling bored and a bit plop too then have a listen to this tune...it will cheer you up, and it's ideal to dance round your room to like a crazzzzy! :) 









Saturday 14 April 2012

Staying Positive

Since coming back from Morzine and not living by a set routine anymore it can be easy to slip into a downward spiral of not doing much! It's been great coming back and spending a week catching up with friends, however, yesterday I found myself with no plans...so there was definitely a moment or two when I was sat on my bed staring into thin air not really knowing what to do with myself. I knew if I carried on doing that it would get me down - so I was determined to keep myself busy: went for a run - endorphin's to the brain = happy :) great. Then I pretty much sat on my arse for the rest of the afternoon trawling through the copious amounts of local magazine companies sending off emails to them trying to get some writing work or work experience - fingers crossed! 
I believe if you feel like you're having a productive day it makes you feel better and it's always good to get some fresh air too. 

Friday 13 April 2012

New Blog

Seeing as I wasn't very good at keeping my season in Morzine blog up to date I've decided to start a new one...but this time it's to do with unemployment and the struggle it will be to break into the big wide world full of careers. I'm sure many of you can relate to this, especially those who have picked a competitive industry to get into - like me! 

Reflecting on my season - I had some awesome times, met some great people and not to mention picked up a hobby that I love and became pretty good at...all of which I miss. But I learnt some valuable lessons when it came to the working side of things. Just some advice to anyone thinking about Chalet Hosting: 

  • Don't think it will be easy - because it's not! (attention to detail is essential, along with the other million things you need to remember to do)
  • Looking down numerous toilets 6 days a week isn't great, not to mention sometimes having to scrub sick off the bathroom walls...mmm lush.
  • You have to work early mornings and then be back to work in the evening, sometimes until late (which is balls after a hard days riding up the mountain) 
  • If you get a job with a privately run chalet keep in mind you may have to put up with old men and guests talking absolute garbage at you.
  • Make sure you're not the youngest person working - that seems to be a good enough reason to be treated like sh*t! 

Just don't be afraid to fight your corner and if that means leaving - do it.