It was right there. Infront of me. Drawing me in. It was a tall and wide gate with two pillars at either side, with ivy crawling up the crumbling brickwork. I looked up as it towered over me, the sunlight blinding my eyes.

The gate was the only thing between home and a new life.

My brain was urging me on torwards it- but my heart was holding me back. As if somehow it knew that this was the wrong choice- and I should wait a while to get my head together. But then it looked so welcoming. I took one step.

Suddenly my heart jolted. I remembered. I remembered my Mother. I was the only one left in her life- and now I was just going to leave her behind? Tears of guilt welled up in my eyes. Do I have to leave her?

I fought back the tears. No. I was not going to let old memories get in the way of me and what I had dreamt for so long. The dream was just, so perfect.

The low rise council estate where I had lived for half my life loomed behind me. I glanced back at it one last time. I took a deep breath. That's what my Mother had always told me. Take a deep breath, clear your mind, and all your fears would fade away.

I felt a drop of rain splash onto my shoulder. The sky had turned grey. A rumble of thunder and a flash of lightning. A storm was brewing. This was my chance. I had to do it soon. I lifted up my foot and took a step. The last one. I slowly took my hand from my pocket and withdrew the key to the gate. My hand was shaking. Tentativley, I eased the key into the lock. And turned.