Collage created using images from Pixabay
If she had to go through another “I’m good… school’s good… weather’s nice… how are you?” one more time she would scream. She hated this. She knew next to no one here. She was dragged along by a friend who promptly abandoned her in the maelstrom.
She made eye contact with another vaguely-familiar-oh-god-they-know-me-who-are-they face and smiled that awkward half-smile people do, but broke the contact before they took it as an invitation to come over.
She stared at the cup in her hand full of a miscellaneous liquid she had decided she wouldn’t touch the moment the plastic was pressed into her hands, but had kept to avoid the call of well-meaning people – but people nonetheless – who would come over to check if she wanted a drink.
She had the trick of being a wallflower down to an art. She checked her phone, it was 9:30. Finally she could leave. It was late enough for her to claim feasibly that she had attended but early enough that she wouldn’t have to endure socialising anymore.
She made her exit, disposing of the untouched drink and took a deep breath. Solitude, just the way she liked it.
Time to go home, get into her pyjamas and read a couple of chapters of her familiar, well-worn book before going to bed. That was much more her scene.
Lucy Dodgson is an A Level student at Woodhouse currently studying English Language, English Literature and History. She is particularly interested in English Language and the impact of language and storytelling on society. Lucy is keen to get more involved with Exposure.
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Exposure is an award-winning youth communications charity giving young people in north London a voice. Please support us to continue our work. Thank you.
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