‘A party?? No way; you’ve got exams coming up. You need to start buckling down and thinking about your future.’
I stopped the car and Lizzy opened the passenger door. ‘Oh my god, you won’t let me do anything. I hate you!’
She slammed the door and, dragging her rucksack on the ground behind her, stropped off towards the school gates.
Aggghhhh. Teenagers. I breathed deeply to calm down, pulled out into the road and turned on the radio.
‘…the singer had already left the stage when the explosion occurred. 22 people, including children have been killed, with more than 60 injured.’
I listened to the rest of the news, barely able to take in what had happened. Innocent children murdered at a joyous occasion. Families destroyed. Parents devastated.
The news finished and one of my favourite songs came on. I started to sing along, but I heard the words properly for the first time; my voice cracked and tears started to flood down my face. Tears for the families left behind. Tears for the parents who would never see their children again. Tears for those who died, scared and alone, thinking about their loved ones.
When I heard that sound
When the walls came down
I was thinking about you
About you
When my skin grows old
When my breath runs cold
I’ll be thinking about you
About you
When I run out of air to breathe
It’s your ghost I see
I’ll be thinking about you, about you
I pulled the car over and grabbed my phone, hitting the saved number. Pick up, pick up.
‘What?’
‘Go to the party. Buy something new. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy your life.’
‘Thank you!’
‘I love you, Lizzy.’
‘Love you too. Later.’
‘Yes. I’ll see you later.’
***
Lyrics from Skin by Rag’n’Bone Man © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Songwriters: Dan Bryer / Jamie Scott / Jonny Coffer / Mike Needle / Rory Graham
A story using the photo prompt above for the Friday Fictioneers.
The tragic events of Manchester have been constantly on my mind this week and my heart goes out to the families and friends of those murdered and injured in this senseless attack.
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BARBED WORDS 
So many broken hearts, so many tears.
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A senseless tragedy.
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I still simply can’t wrap my head around this one. Yes – truly a senseless tragedy.
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It’s thinking about what the parents are going through that is just so heart-breaking.
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It was an awful thing and I thank heaven I can’t understand it for the only way I could, is if I was of the same mind as him. Thoughtful well written piece
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Thank you. You’re right, we’ll never be able to understand why he did it.
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It was heartrending in Manchester. Good writing, B.W. —- Suzanne
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Thank you x
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It was such a terrible thing. I think there are parents all over the country feeling so thankful that their stroppy teenager has come home safely from wherever they went.
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