Another day has passed. The sun just settled over the horizon and, as usual, I didn't do anything today.

Just another day filled with nothingness.

I take my phone and head upstairs to the terrace, then sit on the bench beside the picnic table under the gazebo and stare in front of myself: it's the same old view of the same old town. I always hated everything about this place, yet, I never get tired of the look this town has at night. Empty tired old streets lit only by the street lamps: the only things that gave them a spark of life. The sound of the chill autumnal breeze in the distance. The darkest sky with so few stars. I wonder: if all those lights would, one day, turn off... would anyone notice? Would this city stop existing and no one would see it? Once the sun will be up and this place will be gone forever... will someone cry? After all, this shitty old town is so boring and insignificant.

And the worst thing is... sometimes, I feel just like this town.

As usual, I spend several minutes lost in thought, daydreaming about how I want my life to be like when I'll be out of here. Independent. It makes me feel enthusiastic but also insecure: will my life be like that one day? Well, I know myself and I know that, somehow, even when I have no more motivation, something just pushes me forward. But I don't know what the road ahead will be like, so maybe I'll just end up like a failure.

After a while, I get up and go back downstairs. It's 1:23 am and my father is asleep, snoring loudly as usual. Filthy old fuck. I walk quietly to my room and close the door.

Time passes by and I'm still trying to fall asleep: my anxiety is getting worse and worse every day but there is nothing I can do about it right now, except trying to distract myself from it and stop thinking about all those things that happened. All those things that will happen. All those things that could happen. I know the drill: I'm not gonna get any sleep anytime soon, so I take my phone again and turn the screen on. It's almost 2 am. I check my messages and my social media. As usual: 0 notifications. But, all of a sudden, I get a notification. It's a text message from my only friend: Mara.

"Hey love, summer is almost over and we haven't spent much time together lately. I found a great resort area in a town near a lake for pretty cheap. Wanna go together?"

I read and smile: this could be a fun experience. She neglected our friendship this summer but it makes me feel better to see she thought about me, also, I really need an actual vacation: I couldn't stand one more day in this house with the old fuck.

I start typing and answer quickly.

"Sure! What's the name of the place? I want to check it out."

I wait for a minute or two then I get her reply.

"Silent Hill"

Thursday morning came quickly and I prepared my suitcases yesterday so I just need to get dressed and I'll be ready to go. I wear my tight-fitting black jeans, my beige thin turtleneck, my leather boots which are beige as well and have a discreet 5cm heel, and finally, my sand-colored parka jacket. I also wear my glasses: I don't need them to see, It's just an accessory I like to wear sometimes.

Perfect, now I'm ready.

We will stay there for 4 days and come back on Monday. A little vacation to take a break from all my stress which has been piling up for a while. It's such a pain to live with my father, he is seriously mentally ill but is convinced of the opposite: in his head, everyone around him is a psycho who wants to ruin his life and there is nothing you can do to convince him otherwise. And this is just the tip of the iceberg... but enough thinking about him. My head always gets filled with thoughts like this whenever I'm not distracted.

I finish packing up my things and do a quick check-up to make sure I have all I need for the trip.

I get a text message:

"I'll be there in 10 minutes"

I read it then walk to the apartment's living room to step outside, on the balcony, and look at the sky. The weather is sunny but there are some clouds here and there, a cold morning breeze is flowing gently and passing by.

We're at the end of September and it's already getting cold. Not that I mind: I always loved cold seasons.

I see a dark blue car drive through the street and stop in front of my house. Once downstairs, I open the door and see Mara in her car waiting for me. We smile at each other as I approach her open car window.

She's wearing a carmine red button-up shirt tucked into her sand-colored pants along with her brogue shoes which are also red. Her black purple-ish dyed hair was left loose and free to reach and touch her shoulders.

(End Of Small Sanctuary by Akira Yamaoka)

"Wow you actually kept your word: you said 10 minutes and you arrived punctually! Usually, if you say 10 minutes, it means I'll have to wait another hour at least."

I say smiling.

She chuckles and answers.

"Oh, fuck you! You're lucky I even showed up this morning."

"You went to sleep at 5 am again, right?"

"Exactly."

She presses a button and the luggage rack of her car unlocks so I can put my suitcase in.

"Alright, let me tell my father we're leaving, and then we can go."

"You still haven't told him?"

"Sorry, I just forgot."

"Whatever, hurry up."

I start walking towards my father's shop, which is conveniently located right beneath the apartment. I didn't tell him about this earlier because I forgot: I just don't know how to approach him and have a normal conversation with him without feeling awkward and uncomfortable: he is... problematic to say the least. And that's why I always tell him about stuff like this at the last second. I enter the store and the usual stench of cigarettes causes my nose to burn and sting. I quickly get his attention.

"Hey Dad, I'm going on a trip for a few days. I'm with Mara: we'll be back on Monday."

"Oh, where are you going?"

"To Silent Hill: it's a little town by Toluca Lake. Mara invited me to go with her."

"Alright, be careful and have fun."

I start to make my way out.

"Don't worry, see you!"

"See you!"

Good, that wasn't too awkward and he didn't have anything against it. Well, it wouldn't really matter anyway, I'm 19 and he can't make decisions for me anymore, yet I keep worrying for some reason.

I get out letting my poor nose breathe some fresh air again, then approach the car again and get inside.

"Alright, let's go."

Mara smiles silently, turning the keys to start the engine. I take out my phone to give her directions during the road trip.

We turn on the radio.

(You're Not Here by Akira Yamaoka)