Free Saving Amy by Nicola Haken

remember the plans I made but now I was here, back in reality, I couldn’t see them actually materialising. Graduation was one week away and I’d missed all but one final. Who would employ me now?
    There was no way out. I would never escape my father – he’d make sure of it. Trying to resign myself to the life I’d been given, I sank my face into my tearstained pillow and sobbed violently into it – again.

Chapter Four

    Me: Good luck 2day. Sorry I’m not with U. I’m sure you’ll do amazing! Xxx

    I tapped Julie’s name into the recipient bar and hit ‘send’. Today was graduation and Julie had been asked to give a short speech as a sort of consolation prize for missing out on being valedictorian by just two credits. Today was the start of her future and I just knew she’d go on to do amazing things with her life. She had everything I used to wish for and nobody deserved it more than she did.
    I started to wonder if school had bothered to contact my dad over the fact I’d just stopped attending one day, and what excuse he gave them if they had. Eventually I decided they couldn’t have done – I ’d have been a few bruises worse off if they had. They mustn’t have given a rat’s ass about me either.
    My cell vibrated against the wood of my dresser.

    Julie: Cheers Amy. Wish u were here. I’ll fill u in tomoz! Love u xxx

    Shit. I’d forgotten we were meeting tomorrow. If graduating was about passing the world’s shittiest friend final I’d have been the first to get my diploma. I was both relieved and grateful that she’d reminded me. I didn’t know when I would see her again now she’d been accepted into the University of Florida.
    I could’ve quite easily gotten depressed about that today so I decided to jump in the shower before it took over my mind. By the time I’d finished it was time to trawl the city in search of a job. Someone must have to something to offer. I was prepared to do anything. Selling, waitressing, scrubbing toilets…
    I got in my car feeling unusually upbeat - positive – and headed out towards the city.

    When I got back in my car I slammed the door closed and slumped my head over the wheel. I was all rejected out. I couldn’t take another ‘no’, ‘sorry no vacancies’ or ‘what qualifications do you hold?’ for today. It was 05:15 PM but I couldn’t face going home yet – my dad was due home shortly so I planned to hold out until I knew he’d be in bed.
    My only friend was busy graduating and I had no money so it looked like I was in for a few hours sat in my car with the stereo blaring to drown out my thoughts. I scanned through the stations until I came across a half-decent song, threw my head back and closed my eyes – letting Adele distract me for what wouldn’t be long enough.
    Startled by a knock on my window, my eyes jolted towards the glass. Then my heart sank. It was Leon. Hesitantly, I rolled down the window.
    “Long time no see,” he chatted as if we were friends but I knew he was only here to make money.
    “What do you want, Leon?”
    “That’s no way to greet an old friend now is it? You seem tense. I can help you with that.”
    Here we go.
    “No thanks. I’m done with that shit,” I declared and hoped it was enough to send him packing. Oddly, I hadn’t given the stuff a single thought since ending up in hospital and I’d had more than enough reasons to. Bizarrely, somewhere entrenched in the back of my mind, I wondered if it was because of Richard and some kind of deep desire not to let him down – even though the rational part of me knew I’d probably never see him again.
    “ Really? ” The arrogant fucker sounded surprised. “Well it’s always best to have something handy for when things get too much. Here…” He passed me a familiar pouch through the window. Immediately I pushed it away.
    “Seriously, I’m not interested. I’ve no cash on me even if I was,” I declared, positive the fact I had nothing to offer him would