Chapter 2

Claire

”What….at” I replied stunned.
”I just read this letter she gave me, she told me to open it on the train.” Emma replied.
”Can I see it? I understand if you don’t want to show me it” I asked. ”No, I want ye to see it” Emma said handing over a piece of paper which felt damp.
The ink was runny and the letters were smudged, it was obvious Emma had been crying over it.
I tried to read it as best I could.
”I’m so sorry Emma; I don’t know what to say”
”It’s okay Claire; I’m not expecting you to say anything.”
”I just don’t understand, why didn’t she escape with ye? At least she would still have a life away from your father.”
”I wish I knew the answer to that Claire, I told her to come with me, she said no, I didn’t understand her answer then”

I read some more on the page. I realised this was why Emma was wearing the glasses. She had been abused by her drunken father once again. I decided not to bring the subject of that up just yet, I could see her pain.
Emma looked out of the window. I didn’t want to disturb her, I knew if I left her alone to think things over the atmosphere might not be so awkward.
Two hours passed and I continued to read my book. The train had stopped at so many different locations now and Emma hadn’t budged at any of them. I knew when she wanted to talk, she would go first.

We were on our way to London. It was a long 5 hour journey from Glasgow’s Queen Street to London’s Kings Cross station. London was home to our best friend Mary, who we were going to be living with for some time. Emma knew London was as far away as possible from her father, to her it felt like she was at the other end of the world. It was a quarter past three. It was 2 hours until we reached our destination.
I went to get some food from the cafeteria end of the train. I was so hungry. When I reached it, someone tapped my shoulder. I turned round to find some guy wearing a black jacket, dark blue jeans and a NY baseball cap. Possibly the most gorgeous guy I had ever laid eyes on.
”S’cuse me” he said in this distinctive Irish accent.
”Yeah?” I replied nervously.
”Are ye with a girl wearing a polo neck and sunglasses” he asked curiously.
”Yeah, I am, what’s the problem?” I started to get worried. I thought she had done something stupid.
”There’s no problem, I saw her crying earlier, just wondering if she was ok now”
”She’s ok thanks, I’ll tell her ye were asking for her”
”Glad to hear it” he replied with a smile. He had the most gorgeous smile I had ever seen.
”I don’t wanna jump the gun or anything but what’s yer name?
”Claire, how about you?” I replied. Why did he care what my name was? I asked myself.
”My names Mark” he said.
”Seriously? I love that name” I said with a smile.
”Thanks” he began to blush.
I chose a tuna mayonnaise sandwich and handed over my money.
”I have to get back to Emma, she’ll be wondering where I am.” I said.
”Do you mind if I join you?” he asked flickering his eye lids. I had never seen eyes like his before; they were big, blue and beautiful.
”Nah, I don’t mind at all.”

When we returned Emma was fast asleep.
”Ssshhh” I said putting my finger to my lips.
”I will be” he giggled.
He sat down beside me. We talked about everything for an hour and a half.
I found out so much about him. For one he was travelling with his four best mates and they were heading home to Dublin but staying a few days in London.
He said he wanted to keep in touch. We exchanged mobile numbers and addresses and agreed we would spend some time together in London.

Emma was still fast asleep.

The train grinded to a halt at the red light.
A voice came over the speaker. “We will be arriving at London’s Kings Cross in approximately five minutes.”

Emma began to stir. She looked over to me, yawned and began to stretch. She looked at Mark.
”Who’s this?” she asked looking extremely confused.
”This is Mark”
”Hello” he followed my introduction. “Nice to meet you” he said.
”Hi Mark.” She sat up straight and looked at him more observantly.
”Well I better go and get the lads, they’ll be wondering where I’ve got to” he said looking at his watch.
”Hope you’ll be ok” he said looking at Emma.
”Ok Mark, I hope to hear from you soon” I smiled at him.
We both stood up and he hugged me and kissed my cheek and left.
”Who is that?” she asked now he had left.
”I met him at the café, he was asking for you”
”Why?” she asked.
”He saw you crying and wondered if you were ok now” I smiled and lifted my bag onto my shoulder.
”I’ll go and get the suitcases, hopefully Mary’s came alone. We have loads of stuff” I said trying to get a smile from Emma.
I was successful.
The train stopped. We lifted our bags and got off. I could see Mary in the distance. We said our hellos and made our way to her car.
”How was the journey” asked Mary unlocking the boot of her car.
”Long” I replied.
”I slept most of it” Emma looked up.

We all got in the car and made our way to Mary’s flat.
Emma explained the whole situation to Mary as she only knew that we were coming so Emma could escape her abusive father. We had to break the distraught news of her mothers death. As Emma spoke her words deteriorated.
I interrupted her before she broke down in tears.
”Emma maybe it would be better if I explained to Mary later.”
Emma nodded.
Just then my mobile started to ring.
Mark Calling it said.
I answered it.
”Hello” I said clearing my voice.
”Hiya you” he replied.
Before I could answer he continued.
”Do you want to go out for dinner tomorrow night, I want you and Emma to meet my friends. Maybe it will cheer Emma up a bit.”
”I would love to, I’m not sure if Emma is up for it, it’s a confusing situation. I will ask her though. Can I call ye back?”
”Yeah, no problem.”
”Talk soon” I said and hung up.

I put my phone in my pocket and looked up. Emma and Mary were staring at me. ”Who was that?” asked Mary.
”Just a friend” I said couldn’t help but smile.
”I bet it’s that guy you were talking to on the train.” Emma said perking up.
”What guy was this?” asked Mary.
”She was chatting up some guy called Mark on the train”
Before any more was said I interrupted.
”He asked us out tomorrow night to meet his friends, but I wasn’t sure how you felt about that Emma.”
”I want to go” Emma said out of no where.
I was shocked. I didn’t think Emma would be up for it already.
”I think I should go out, I don’t want to sit and think about what has happened, my mother will always be in my heart, no matter how I grieve.” She said confidently.
I looked at her and smiled.
I called Mark back. We arranged that they would pick us up at Mary’s at 5pm and they would take us out for dinner. I explained we were staying with our best friend Mary and asked if it was ok if she came along. It was.