Dear Isla,

I'm in Poland. Sorry I left without a proper goodbye, but everything's just happened so quickly.

When I got home from school, there was a letter on the table, it said we were being deported back to Poland. Our flight was leaving the next day, and we had no time to pack.

Mum, Dad, Bella and I all rushed to find the most precious things to us, chucked random clothing items into our suitcases and anything else we could think of.

By the time we’d finished panic-packing, it was time to leave. England had always felt more like home than Poland to my parents, even though they had both grown up in the bleak country. It had always felt safer, more secure. But this life was over now, it was time to start a new one.

The next few hours went by like a flash. All I could do on the plane was daydream about my new life, hope that I will make friends, hope everything will be OK.

Once we landed, it was like we were on a different planet. The air was icy, but not in a weather-like way. There was a sinister chill. We left the airport as quick as possible and launched ourselves into the damp black taxi that was waiting outside.

Barely anything was said for the 30-minute drive to our new ‘home’. The less we talked, the less anyone had to think about our pending doom. Finally, there it was. A white, snow tipped house with an eerie feel.

We all unpacked quickly. We're in our rooms wondering how life is going to be from now on. That's everything. I really need you right now, but I don't know if I’ll ever see you again.

Love your best friend, Lauren x