7 - Phone Back. Standing Stone.

Alright… after Friday night, I actually feel a bit more like me again.

Saturday I didn’t do much, because I was still processing everything and, yeah, I still didn’t have my phone. But I got it back yesterday and honestly? Massive W.

First thing I did was ring my girlfriend. We ended up talking for like two hours. Proper good chat. I think she’d been worried about me, because the last couple of times we spoke I was all over the place — not really in my right head. So yeah, it felt good to just talk like normal and put her mind at rest a bit.

Then I rang a few of my mates. Told them the “official” version — I’d been ill, lost my apprenticeship, went to my mate’s in Knaresborough to lay low and sort my head out. Told them I’m basically back now, just got a couple of things to sort this week, and then I’ll be about again.

Mate… I can’t even explain how good it felt hearing their voices. Like, finally.

Anyway — yesterday morning Edwin woke me up about eight and goes, “Come on, we’re getting your phone.”

I’m up in two seconds. Throw some clothes on, fly downstairs, he’s got toast ready — quick bite, smash a coffee, gone. He drives us somewhere, parks round a corner and tells me to wait in the car. Which, at this point, yeah… I’m getting used to that routine.

He’s gone about five minutes, jumps back in and hands me my phone.

Only problem: it’s dead. Fully dead.

I was a bit like, “Seriously?” but yeah… I should’ve expected it.

Then Edwin tells me he’d spoken to Evan the night before about taking me to the standing stone. The one. The place I… appeared. Which still sounds mad when I say it.

So we head out toward Radbourne way — not saying the exact spot, alright — but I’m pretty sure I must’ve driven past it loads over the years with mates, just never clocked it.

We pull up, walk over a little stile, and then down the hedge line to the corner of the field.

And yeah… there it is.

A crossroads. And right near it, this standing stone. Only it’s not some epic Skyrim monument or anything — it’s more like a stump now. About four foot, covered in graffiti, no markings you can really make out.

But still… it hit me.

I don’t know why, but I just started tearing up. Proper caught me off guard. I’m not even that emotional usually, but it just… landed. Like, that’s the place. That’s where all this started.

Edwin put his arm round me and pulled me in. I’m not gonna lie, I had a bit of a sob. Everything just piled up at once — the job, the lies, the last month, the fact he’s not actually my uncle… and still, he’s the one who’s been there the whole time.

After a few minutes I pulled myself together and we headed back to the car.

He sits there for a sec and goes, “Right. Maccies?”

Say less.

We go McDonald’s, I get a McCrispy meal and a large black coffee — because yeah, I’m that guy. We sit in the car park eating and actually talk properly. He explained a bit more about when Evan first brought me to him — how there was basically no choice, he had to help. And over time… he said he started seeing me as his son.

And honestly… that kind of did something to me. Because yeah, paperwork or not, he’s the one who raised me from day one. So if anyone’s a dad in my life, it’s him.

Then he clocks me fiddling with the dead phone and goes, “Come on, let’s get back so you can charge it and let people know you’re alright.”

So we get home around midday-ish, I charge it up, and then I start making calls.

Girlfriend first — like I said, about two hours. Then a couple of my mates, and they’re all like, “Bro where have you been?” “We thought you’d vanished.” “What the hell?” proper grilling me. I just kept it simple: illness, job gone, head went west, stayed at Steve’s, now I’m back.

And now I’m back on the scene, yeah? Let’s get some gaming nights sorted. Big W.

Evan’s meant to be coming round sometime this week as well to answer questions that’ve come up since Friday. Because Friday night my head was just chaos — now it’s more like… targeted questions. Mostly about him, if I’m honest. I mean… 760-odd years old. That’s mad. He must’ve seen some serious stuff.

There’ll probably be a couple of IRL posts before that just to keep things moving, but yeah — that’s where I’m at.

And best bit?

First proper gaming night tonight. I’m off round Paul’s. I don’t even care what we play — FIFA, COD, whatever. I just wanna chill, laugh, get rinsed, rinse someone back… normal mate stuff. I can’t wait.

And yeah… I know Evan’s watching, so… what can go wrong, right?

Anyway, that’s it for today. I’ll keep you updated if anything happens.