Leaving home for University.

As the car slowly backs out of the driveway and casts down the familiar street where I have grown up, I let memories from my childhood flicker through my mind.
I see children riding bikes and rollerblading out in the street during the long, hot sticky summer evenings.
I smell the next door neighbours barbeque sizzling. I feel the pain the time I broke my arm out on the sidewalk. I remember lying on the hard, pebbly concrete waiting for the ambulance to arrive and take me to the hospital.

Oh, how I long to hear the ever familiar sounds of children talking and laughing once more.
Suddenly the tears begin to fall down my face so I slouch down low in my seat in the back of the car.

Five hours later my parents and I arrive at the University College and begin unpacking my belongings into my new room.
Once this task is complete the time has come for my parents to leave and begin the long car trip back home. As my parents walk out the door the tears fall and I curl my legs up to my chest and rest my head onto my knees, I manage to say a choked ''Bye I love you.'' The door closes and I am alone.

After a while I wash my face and venture out for dinner to the dining hall. I line up and soon it is my turn to be served. Baked chicken and vegetables are heaped onto my plate.
I sit down in the corner of a long table and smile shyly to the other people their.

I force down a small portion of my meal and return to the comfort and privacy of my room.
After a long, hot, cleansing shower I crawl into a different bed that creaks, rest my head onto my familiar purple pillow and watch the shadows creep against the walls in my dark, unfamiliar room.

My mind reflects back to my family I begin to cry and eventually fall into a deep and meaningless sleep.

By Natasha Bush.