A Place to Call Mine

CONNECTEDNESS AND ISOLATION

“Riyah, come on. It’s time for school. You don't want to be late, do you?” her mum yelled as she buttoned up the last two buttons on her blouse.

“I actually don't mind, whatever will help me not have to go” Riyah replied from the top of the stairs.

“Riyah Thompson-Davis, do not make me come up there and drag you down these stairs. Get down now!” her mother shouted, annoyed by her daughter’s lack of respect for her authority.

“Fine” Riyah said as she trudged down the stairs in her new school uniform. “I look like an i***t. What is this” Riyah commented, disgusted.

“It is the school’s official uniform, and you look lovely, Ri. Now lets go” her mum responded as she stroked her daughter’s head gently and turned to exit the house.

“What about breakfast... mum.... mum”

“You can eat in the car, now lets go Riyah”.

As they were driving to Riyah’s new school, they drove past her mum’s new workplace, and whilst they drove past it, Riyah couldn't help but wonder why a vibrant and lively place like the preschool, existed in a town like New Havens. The minuscule town felt like it was trapped in the olden days and refused to catch up with the rest of the world; And just like when they arrived to the town, the sky was a pale grey and the dark clouds smothered the sun, preventing it from shining brightly. The small shops and bars still had their windows boarded up and the road was still a cobbled mess. What was stranger was that barely anyone was on the streets. It was like they were trapped in a bad horror film. The town appeared completely lifeless, and the people that were on the street seemed like zombies. But, then you saw the preschool, and it was the light in the darkness.

Sunnyside Preschool

It hid in a quite corner of the town center and blossomed like a flower although it was stuck in a wintry and glacial town. Its walls were painted a beautiful shade of lilac, and had baby blue and baby pink roses and bright yellow sunflowers as well. In the little playground situated in the front garden of the preschool, there were tiny children playing and laughing, enjoying their youth, entirely unaware of the dullness of this mundane town. Furthermore, the staff watching over the children were not like the other inhabitants of the town. They had wide smiles plastered on their faces and they were smiles that made it possible to see their pearly-white teeth. Seeing the preschool on her way was the only thing that brought Riyah some relief. She was overjoyed to know that despite the monotonousness of the town, and the unfriendly demeanour of the majority of the citizens living here.

The preschool stood proud and rejuvenated the atmosphere. It was like it was a reminder that even in the harshest climates, delightful things can still survive. So, because of this she would have to persevere and find the strength to survive here, at least long enough to escape, one day.

“Riyah, that is my new workplace that we just passed. If you ever need something, it is only five minutes from your school and ten minutes from the house. Okay honey?” her mum said when she noticed how quiet Riyah had been.

“Yeah, whatever you say mum” Riyah replied looking out the window and then scribbling in her notebook.

“Oh, what are you writing” her mum enquired joyfully.

“Nothing important, just focus on the road” Riyah responded still writing in her notebook.

“Oh come on, please tell me. You know how much I love your writing Ri. Please, pretty please...” her mum whined, nudging Riyah playfully.

“Fine" Riyah replied abruptly. “I am writing about us, our life. Okay! Is your curiousity satisfied mother?”

“Yes, yes it is...... Will you let me read it when it is finished” her mum asked.

“Sure, whatever gets you to be less nosy. Now please focus on the road”.

Before Riyah knew it, they had arrived at her new school. The sky above the school was even greyer than the sky that flowed above the town, even though they were the same sky and they had only driven two miles. Nonetheless, the school matched the vibe of the town, because it seemed more like a prison, with its shuttered windows, chilling brick stone walls and barbed wire fences. Was this place really a place of learning and improvement? It didn't feel like a normal school, but like the wilderness, a place where only the toughest survived and all those considered weak, were preyed on, like gazelles in the jungle.

The interior of the school had tall dark grey walls, that were bare and cold to the touch. The windows were narrow and had wooden shutters on them, letting in only the tiniest bit of light. The only light inside the school, were fluorescent bulbs that hung from the ceiling and burned your eyes if you looked at them for too long.

As Riyah followed her mum through the hallway towards the principal's office, time froze once more as all the students' eyes turned towards her and drilled holes into her head. Nobody smiled, not even a tiny bit. Riyah couldn't help but think that no matter where she went in this town, she was the enemy. Someone to be suspicious of, like she had a target on her back, which marked where to stick pitchforks in. This ghost town was seriously giving her the hibbie jibbies.

As her mother walked along the long hallway, their footsteps echoed loudly, harmonising with the slam of locker doors, and the sounds of teachers and students in nearby classrooms. The dull hallway was lined with large silver lockers, most dented and the ones covered in graffiti were being repainted. As they got closer to the principal's office, every student they passed looked the same as the one before. There was no individuality, no colour, no creativity allowed in this prison-like school. The air felt thick, suffocating. Riyah was staring to hyperventilate as her breathing became laboured.

Riyah could tell that everyday in this hell hole would destroy something precious inside of her... but to survive she had to disappear, be invisible. How hard could it be.

Three months had gone by and Riyah was already losing the will to live. This place was t*****e. There were so many rules here. You spoke when spoken to. You didn't have the right to raise your head when being criticised by teachers. And any attempt of individuality got you two weeks detention. Oh, how she missed the freedom she had in the city. It was so much better. Her old school had real sunlight because the windows were actually open, and the sunlight illuminated the vibrant colours of the mint lockers and lavender hallways. Students were allowed to be people, not robots programmed to be the same. You were able to express yourself freely without fearing punishment. There was laughter and joy, and everyone was alive. But here, here it felt absolutely draining.

Each and every day she walked through the front entrance, she died a little on the inside. Riyah used to hate how rowdy the halls used to get in her old school because they would distract her from her writing, but now she would do anything to go back to that. Because the only noise you got here were people betting on fights or whispering to each other about her. She missed the chaos of living. She missed being able to hear the sound of her voice... the only time she hears it is when she is reading or writing. When would this nightmare end, and when would colour return to her life.

And then one day everything changed.