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"What do you mean?" I frowned

"He was born out of wedlock Annie never married I’ela claiuess lots of wo the way Bridget was talking about Annie

"True," Bridget nodded "Nothing wrong anting the child but not the husband But Annie was on the young side She was just sweet sixteen when the baby was born"

Bridget was glowing, the way gossips do when they’re telling a juicy story I wanted to snap at her, but it was better to hold et continued "He was a blessing in soht some joy back into the house"

"And now Annie looks after hi the first year, for weekends and holidays But now the boy’sas well as lanced at the house and sniffed "But they could do with giving that old wreck a slap of paint"

"I think the house looks fine," I said stiffly

"What do sixteen-year-old boys know about houses?" Bridget laughed Then she bidto call her back, to ask when Annie would be home But then I decided not to Just as easy - and- to wait out here and watch for her

There was a small tree on the other side of the road I stood by it, hood up over h I aiting to meet somebody The street was quiet and not many people passed

The day darkened and dusk set upon the town There was a bite in the air but it didn’t trouble me - half-vaht about what Bridget had said while I aiting Annie, a mother! Hard to believe She’d been a kid herself the last tiet said, Annie’s life hadn’t been the easiest Being a h But it sounded like she had things under control now

A light went on in the kitchen A woman’s silhouette passed from one side to the other Then the back door opened andher Taller, with long brown hair, irl But the sa eyes, and lips which were ready to turn up into a warm-hearted sh in a trance I wasn’t able to tear s felt like they were about to give way, but I couldn’t turnline in the back yard, fro She blew into her hands to warar each over the crook of her left arm

I stepped forward and openedotten This was Annie - h and cry with her, catch up on the past, ask about Mum and Dad

But my vocal chords wouldn’t work I was choked up with eas I caathered all the clothes froulped deeply and licked my lips Blinked several tiain?

?and stopped when a boy inside the house shouted, "Mum! I’m home!"

"About time!" Annie yelled in reply, and I could hear the love in her voice "I thought I told you to bring in the clothes"

"Sorry Wait a sec?" I saw the boy’s shadow as he entered the kitchen and hurried over to the back door Then he e

"Do you want me to take sohed, handing half of the load over to the boy He went in ahead of her She turned to shut the door and caught a gliht was behind her She couldn’t see h? if I called out to her?

I didn’t

Instead I coughed, pulled ht around my face, spun and walked away I heard the door close behindme adrift from the past

Annie had her own life A son A home Probably a job Maybe a boyfriend or somebody special It wouldn’t be fair if I popped up, opening old wounds,her part of my dark, twisted world She enjoyed peace and a normal life - much better than what I had to offer

So I left her behind and slunk away quickly, through the streets of my old town, back to my real home - the Cirque Du Freak And I sobbed my heart out every painful, lonely step of the way