Silence

Silence consumed my whole life; it suppressed things I could never express. My silence was responsible for my family’s happiness. Silence was my prison.

Most people have heard the phrase, ‘Silence is golden’; many would agree with it: people with screaming children running wild around the house or working in a noisy office. For me, however, it meant something entirely different. Silence consumed my whole life; it suppressed things I could never express. My silence was responsible for my family’s happiness. Silence was my prison.

I had always wondered if Cole would believe me if I ever did manage to tell him everything; or if Dad was right and everyone would believe him. As much as I wanted to believe Cole would choose to have faith in me, I could never risk it. In just over two years, I would be eighteen and could leave home. There was no point in ripping my family apart and hurting so many people when I would leave soon anyway.

For me, however, it meant something entirely different. Silence consumed my whole life; it suppressed things I could never express.

That girl was buried deep under my skin, tattooed all over my heart. I fucking loved her with everything I had.

Boredom is actually going to kill me. I

Why were things so complicated? If I could go to sleep and wake up as someone else, anyone else, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

The fantasy I had in my head of how things would turn out was just that; a fantasy. I’d lose everything. I knew that. He’d told me enough times. It wasn’t something I could risk. Not ever. Placing

I hated school with a passion.

Are you ready to leave, Oakley? Cole is waiting outside,” my mum said softly. She leant against the doorframe of my room and smiled

The fantasy I had in my head of how things would turn out was just that; a fantasy.

My silence was responsible for my family’s happiness. Silence was my prison.

How could they still find that funny? Did they ever get bored of their own stupid, pathetic jokes? I

Hot chocolate was the drink that turned me into a human in the mornings. “Good

We just get on with it the best we can. We fight to be better people, more understanding, stronger. Ultimately, we’ve just got to ride it out until we’re willing to change, and we’ve got to be okay with not being perfect human beings who’re fully in control of their life…despite what their stupid heart wants.

Cole talked almost continuously on the drive, chatting away about his car and what we’d do later. Occasionally, I would nod or smile in response to something he’d said, but apart from that, I just sat and listened to him speaking. His voice was smooth and calming. Not talking to him was hard. I desperately wanted to return his quick banter with something smart of my own. But I stayed tongue-tied. As

I loved her so much. More than anything in the world. Enough to let her go.

Eventually, we sat under some trees, and Ben immediately started stuffing a sandwich into his mouth. The nameless girl, who looked a little like Meg from Family Guy but without the glasses, made a huge effort to talk to Cole as much as she could. I couldn’t blame her. Cole was incredible. I

The only thing that belonged with pizza was ketchup.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE heard the phrase ‘Silence is golden’ and many would agree with it. People with screaming children running wild around the house or working in a noisy office. For me, however, it meant something entirely different. Silence consumed my whole life. It suppressed things I could never express. My silence was responsible for my family’s happiness. Silence was my prison.

wasn’t bad. It felt so natural.

Cole talked almost continuously on the drive, chatting away about his car and what we’d do later. Occasionally, I would nod or smile in response to something he’d said, but apart from that, I just sat and listened to him speaking. His voice was smooth and calming. Not talking to him was hard. I desperately wanted to return his quick banter with something smart of my own. But I stayed tongue-tied. As we pulled into the half-full car park, I started to feel sick. People whispered to each other whenever I was around.

incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products, bands, and/or restaurants referenced in this work of fiction, which