1 001.

I peeked outside my window watching the rain splatter mercilessly on my windowsill. I heaved a sigh as I limply trailed back onto my bed. Isolated teardrops ran down my cheeks as I reminisced my time living away from my toxic household.

Other people would be happy returning home but I am in fact the opposite. I left my household when I was 11 and I've lived with my friend and her family for just under 6 years but now that I'm turning 17, my family wants to spend at least one year with me before I go off for university.

To be honest, the idea of living with them again seriously irks me a bit. Imagine feeling confined to your own household, not in physical terms but rather mentally. I literally had no space to do anything.

Numerous thoughts raced through my mind as I soon drifted into a deep sleep.

-

"Teyana, I'm really gonna miss you," Hadya said as she gave me a hug.

"I'm probably gonna escape and come back within 3 months," I chuckled as I returned the hug.

She flashed me a pained smile as I turned my back on her and dragged my suitcase away with me.

I was enjoying the flight then the realisation that my life was about to do a quick 180°, when this plane lands, left me a bit a nauseated.

Who would want to spend their the 17th birthday flying to hell?

The only thing that comforted me was that I could potentially reunite with my childhood best friend, Kimberly. We went to the same primary school and even lived on the same road however, we lost contact when I moved houses during year 4 and had to leave the school.

-

For people who were so excited to see me, they didn't even bother to pick me up from the airport - how kind?🥰

The ride home was relatively silent as I peered out the window of the black cab. I found it hard to appreciate my current circumstances however, I couldn't help but be nostalgic at the sight of the night sky right in the centre of London.

Internally, I was conflicted. Part of me missed London however, I couldn't fully bring myself to admit that simply because of my painful childhood.

The cab came to a halt as the gates to my family home opened. The whole driveway was lit up with candles, to my surprise. I rolled my suitcase with me as I walked into the open doors to be met with confetti being thrown at me.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TEYANA!" my family screamed at me.

I stared at them in confusion at the fact that they prepared something.

My younger sister Lily ran up to me and gave me a tight hug as I patted her head.

"Thank you guys," I whispered as my gaze softened.

I let go of my luggage as I walked towards my mother and father who embraced me with open arms. I was instantly met with wet tears dripping onto my hair.

"We're sorry for everything that happened in the past, dear. I promise we've changed and we genuinely want to mend our relationship with you," my dad said 'empathetically'.

I called absolute bullshit on that.

I detached myself from the hug as I took a step back. Rather than feeling touched, anger filled me to the brim. I internally scoffed as my eyes grew increasingly dead. I managed to plaster an in-genuine smile on my face as I just nodded.

"Teyana, why don't I help you with your suitcases and stuff?" my brother, Kingsley, quickly interrupted sensing my agitation.

To be honest, I don't totally resent my household - I just SERIOUSLY dislike my other older brother and dad.

I made my way upstairs with Kingsley as he held my luggage.

"How have you been sis?"

"I can't lie, I'm upset at the fact that I'm back like of course I'm happy to see you and all but seeing the both of them is really distasteful," I airily chuckled.

He opened my door as I was met with a seriously outdated black and pink striped wallpaper. I squirmed in visible disgust at the sight of my untouched bedroom. My attention shifted when I saw two Apple boxes stacked on my bed. I jumped to my bed as I heard Kingsley chuckle.

"THEY GOT ME AN IPHONE 12 AND AIRPOD PROS?!" I screamed in hysterics.

"I believe I should receive a personal thanks for that"

I turned around only to be met by an obnoxious smirk plastered on William's face.

My eyes lit up in anger, as I slammed my bedroom door shut on his face.

It was my first time properly looking at him in a long time. I lost all means of contact with him when I lived in France. Imagine not seeing your 'brother' for 6 years and still having such intensely negative feelings for them.

"I see you still don't like me Tey," he said softly from behind my door.

"WELL THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM BITCH," he finished as he walked away.

I left my room and knocked on Kingsley's door.

"May you please tell him to shut his mouth and not interact with me unless you want to see me use mother's debit card and book a flight back - away from all of you."

I heard him hum so I happily skipped back to my room.

My eyes scanned the perimeter of my room as I mentally planned my room renovation. If I was to endure living here for the year, this room would have to be my sanctuary.

I walked into my closet and saw a school uniform laid out on my white chiffon sofa.

'𝘈𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘩 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮' I read off the blazer.

I hopped into my bed, opened up my MacBook and searched up everything about the school like crazy. I'm just happy that they didn't send me to a grammar school, I couldn't be bothered to deal with the obnoxious rich kids who thought the world revolved around them and viewed everybody else as inferior.

Realisation at the fact that I don't know anyone, for definite, at that school kicked in. There was absolutely no sense of familiarity but then it hit me that people from my second primary school may be there and I absolutely hated everyone there with a passion.

I was a complete social outcast in primary school which shaped me. Living in Paris, Hadya was literally my only friend. Academically, I'm gifted but aside from that I lack in virtually everything - especially socialising with people.

School started in about 5 days and since everyone had already completed year 12, I was worried about finding myself some friends.

I mentally reassured myself as one thought popped into my head.

'𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘦𝘵, 𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘬𝘢𝘺'