Leah

"Leah?" I heard someone call and I mumbled out a response and turning the other direction. A sharp pain pierced through my neck and I groaned while rubbing the spot. I opened my eyes only to see Mrs Travis, our neighbour standing there staring at me in confusion, probably because I was sleeping at the side of the house.

"Hey Mrs Travis" I greeted and she scrunched her face. I stood up and dusted my body not wanting to have a conversation with her.

"Did you drink?" She asked, with disgust laced in her voice and I scoffed before walking into the house. The house was empty, obviously. Gus wasn't going to be back for days and my mum was probably working.

My stomach growled and went straight to the fridge. It was empty apart from one pack of ramen. I took out the pot and rinsed it before pouring water into the pot. As I turned on the gas, the front door opened. How convenient.

"Leah!" I heard my mum call out and I sighed. I tapped on the kitchen island and waited for the water to boil. I didn't look up from the top even when I heard footsteps enter the dinning.

"Leah" she said, almost in a whisper, "I was worried sick that you didn't return yesterday. I kept calling yesterday even after I went to my shift last night" she said dropping her bag in the stool. I opened the ramen and gently dropped it inside the pot. I stood there staring at the pot because I didn't want to turn around and face my mum.

"After what happened yesterday, i-" she paused before taking a deep breath. " I realized that I've not been fair to you. I carried all my burdens and placed them on your shoulders. I didn't even notice that you were still a child. " she sniffed before covering it up as a cough. "My friend at the clothing store said there's a cheap apartment in the building next to hers and its very affordable and I can pay little by little so-"

I turned around with lightning speed not believing what I heard, "we're leaving?" I asked baffled and my mum nodded with a small smile on her face. "You're joking.." I said before turning off the gas to take in the news.

"I'm not" she replied, "we can finally build a normal life we've been dreaming of and I'll make that happen". For the first time in six years, I saw a spark in her eyes. I saw hope and I knew that this time, she meant it.

"When are we leaving?"

****
I still couldn't believe that after all these years of pleading with my mum, it took us loosing every dime we had to knock her senses back. Still in uttermost disbelief, I stood in the elevator of the apartment complex carrying four boxes.

"Aren't those boxes heavy?" My mother asked and I shook my head. The excitement of moving made it impossible for me to notice that I was carrying almost everything. The elevator doors opened and my mum stepped out first with the keys in her hand. I almost tripped because I couldn't even see where I was going properly.

My mum carried out two boxes from my hands and I realized she had already opened the door and dropped the bags she was carrying. I kept the boxes on the floor and looked around the apartment. It was pretty small with a living room, kitchen, two rooms and a bathroom but it was perfect.

"I know its not much but.." My mum said, standing beside me but I shook my head.

"I love it" I said hugging her. She tightened her hold on me and I smiled, it's been long.

"We have a lot of unpacking to do" she said and I groaned, "Don't be lazy, let's go" she said patting my back. I dragged the bags containing our clothes to the room and started sorting them looked around the room again and couldn't help but smile. I felt butterflies in my stomach as I thought of the new future ahead. And in contrast to my thoughts yesterday, I couldn't wait for what tomorrow will bring.