You had not done well in school, which honestly, you had expected to be the case. Younger you would’ve been so disappointed, she was an overachiever. Infact you were the smartest girl in primary school.

But the second you stepped in secondary school things went awry. You were bullied continuously and teachers were purposely spiteful towards you. The boys would make inappropriate comments and try get you to do things… which you always turned down. To which you’d be called a prude or hideous.

And so you left secondary with not a single hope for your future, and nothing good on paper. You didn’t imagine ever getting a half decent job or making enough to move out. You also couldn’t fathom anybody wanting to date someone with such bad grades and future hopes.

After 17 months of being isolated at home, not having any friends. You had started working at the local shelter near you. You figured since you always loved dogs and cats it was a decent enough job, plus they took you on after you had spent months volunteering there.

The pay was minimum wage, and the work could be unpleasant… scooping up dog crap and listening to barking all day. But there was many benefits in your eyes.

And recently you had been looking at every guy, trying to find the one. A sweet guy who was cute…

Your local butcher had offered the shelter a load of meat that was not human consumption worthy, or off cuts— and so it was your job to pick them up today. where you met him. The appreciate butcher, Simon Riley.

You chatted for a little. He was tall, scruffy and big… and the same age as you, 18. Which he had informed you of as he loaded up the van. There was a sadness and distance in his eyes, though he hid it well.