I was a total mess, I had about twenty minutes before I had to leave for a work trip and I was nowhere near ready. I hadn't even decided on what I was going to wear, bu that was going to be a problem from near future Becca. I had also decided that there was no need for makeup and even if there was a need for it I didn't have much time. I had always been bad with time, I had known this little detail since I was a child. My parents had constantly pointed it out more than enough times, and although I had believed that I would just simply grow out of it, I hadn't. The problem was that I wasn't a child anymore, and I wasn't in school so I couldn't simply say that I have overslept. For god's sake I was a 31 years old, how could I have this bad of a time management? One moment it is 8:30 a.m. and I am having breakfast while going through my emails, the next one it is 10:34 a.m. and I am frantically running around my small apartment, trying to gather all of my necessities in a travel bag. Crazy how time works.
I opened my wardrobe and grabbed a white t-shirt along with dark blue jeans. Anything was going to do at that moment, I couldn't bring myself to care what I was going to wear in the car and the interview wasn't until tomorrow so I wasn't going to embarrass myself with my current state. I made my way to the front door as I gave myself one last look before going out. My eyes stayed on the mirror for a second longer than needed, something looked weird, and then I noticed it. Michael's dog tag was out of my shirt. I slowly reached with my right hand, wrapped my hand around it and kissed it before putting it inside of my shirt. It was only mine to see.
I exited my front door, double checked if it was locked and then pressed the button for the elevator. I patiently waited for it to get on the 5th floor before I walked inside and clicked the button on which the digit '1' was proudly displayed. I walked out of my building and took in the warm spring weather.
I smiled when I noticed a black ford parked in front of my building. A young guy exited and waved at me and I waved back. This was my cameraman - Robert. I walked to the car and got into the passenger seat. "See, I am on time", I said as I gave him a half hug before getting my notes out of the backpack and tossing it on the backseats. "Whatever makes you feel better, Becca", he said as he wasted no time to start the car and pull out of my neighbourhood. I looked at him, and then my gaze turned back to the city streets. Robert is a good camera man. He did his job to the T, his only problem being the fact that he is particular.
We had a four hour at best drive to our final destination. If luck is on our side there won't be any traffic while we try to exit the way too busy city called London. But even through all of the flaws this city had I still loved it. I could never imagine life without the chaos which surrounds huge cities.
I tried not to think about where we were about to go, sometimes I hated how plagued my mind was with one specific person. It was weird how someone could have this much of a hold of you even if they are not around anymore. My thoughts started going from one direction to another. I was so deep in thought that I hadn't noticed that Robert in fact had asked me a question.
"World to Becca, are you with me?", Robert moves his eyes away from the road for a split second to look at me. I hummed in response before finally managing to push my thoughts away. "Sorry, mind repeating?'', I offered and apologetic smile in return. I watched as Robert took a deep breath. Sometimes I wonder if he catches onto me whenever I end up getting lost in my own head and thoughts. ''So, what do you think would happen to that daycare facility in Manchester.''
He finally repeated the question. I took a deep breath, I had already briefed him on the details surrounding this case. Suspected abuse from daycare workers. It wasn't going to be an easy case to cover, but those kids deserve to get light shone onto their situation. After all, neither the kids or the parents had done anything wrong. The parents had entrusted their children to a facility which was supposed to take care of them and kids started showing up home with suspiciously shaped bruises. The case was still on going which meant that I would have to use a lot of 'allegedly, it is believed, supposedly, etc.', even though it was as obvious as day what had happened. "I hope the workers get the max sentence." I answered and looked down to my notes.
I started rummaging through the sheets which were filled with ink. I had pulled an all-nighter so I could gather all of the information I could. From the first suspicions to thee names of the workers. I had prepared questions for everyone even the kids, if obviously the parents agree to have their child interviewed. It pained me to know that someone could lay a hand on such kind-spirited creatures. Kids are the pure through and through, probably the best people on this world and nothing couldn't justify any type of abuse inflicted on a kid.
When we finally arrived in Manchester it was around 6:30 p.m., we had made a stop at around halfway through so we could get some food in our systems. Now we were at a hotel near the centre of Manchester. Surprisingly it didn't look as bad of a city as locals usually described it and it had some warmth in it.
I had already retreated into my room. The first thing which I did was change into my pjs. I didn't feel like going anywhere tonight. It felt like too much of a hustle. I was in for a night with some emails and checking my notes once again. I tied my hair into a ponytail, and walked to the bathroom. I flipped the light switch on and took in the white tiles paired with a white ceiling. The room looked as if it was pulled out of a phys ward. I washed my face and looked at the mirror. Brown eyes stared back at me with a small nose and lush lips. My black hair perfectly contrasted with the whiteness of my skin. I dried off my face and turned the lights off.
Work could wait for a moment longer, there was one thing I needed to do since I was here in this exact city. I knelt beside my small bag and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. I walked out on thr balcony. I leaned on the railing as I pulled a cigarette out of my pack and placed it between my lips. I lit it up as smoke started dancing around me. I took a drag, gulping down the smoke and the exhaled it. I was a smoker myself, but those weren't the cigarettes which I usually smoked. These were the ones that certain someone loved. I looked up at the sky before speaking, "Well, Michael, I am back to where this all had started"