'Ever Since I Can Remember' by Eimear Dollard

Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to run away. You wouldn't blame me either, if you met my family. Living under the same roof as parents who scoff at my ambitions to be a world-famous actress and a brother whose sole purpose in life is to irritate me has finally gotten to me. I will no longer settle for this maltreatment.

          I clutch my rucksack closer to me as I sit down on the cool, hard bench of the bus stop. A dishevelled man with a dirty overcoat and menacing eyes slouches a few feet away from me. He spits on the ground, dangerously close to my new Doc Martens. I try to hold back a grimace. It will be another twenty minutes before the bus arrives to whisk me away to my new glamorous life on the run. I freeze as the man looks up and stares at the side of my head with a manic look. This is it. This is the end. A newspaper heading flashes before my eyes: 'Young aspiring actress found brutally murdered at deserted bus stop'. I wonder would my family care if they realised I had died at their hands. Probably not.
          The man diverts his eyes downwards once more and I breathe a sigh of relief, yet I can't shake the anger I feel as I think back to this morning's events. I had been having an amazing dream: I was centre-stage on Broadway bowing gracefully as the whole audience stood and applauded; some even threw flowers. I was awakened abruptly by a shout "SMACK CAM!" and opened my eyes just in time to see Ben crush an egg onto my cheek with his palm. I swiped at him, but he managed to back out of my bedroom door, holding his phone up to record me, a devious look on his face. I gingerly touched the gooey yolk which had started to run down the side of my face and shuddered. I leapt out of bed and chased my stupid, idiotic, putrid brother down the hall, his screams filling the air.
"No fighting!" my father stepped out from his bedroom, knotting a tie.
"But Ben hit me with an EGG, Dad! He deserves to -"
"I don't care, Amy, I said no fighting." Dad answered sternly and disappeared behind the door again. Ben took advantage of my momentary shock and scooted around me, sticking his tongue out at me before retreating to the safety of his own room.
         I groaned in frustration and marched into the kitchen, where my mother sat reading the paper.
"Mom, Ben smashed an egg into my face while I was asleep and filmed it and then, I told Dad and he didn't even c-"
"Okay, honey, I'll deal with Ben later. Get dressed, alright?" Mom's eyes stayed fixated on the newspaper, not even looking up once to witness part of an egg shell sliding down the tip of my nose. I clenched my fists, trying to remain calm at the fact that I had been interrupted not once, but twice in the space of five minutes. This wouldn't happen in drama class, my teacher actually believes in being able to express yourself.
"Mom. I don't think you realise the seriousness of this incident. My own brother stooped so low to -"
"Yes honey, I heard you. Now, get ready or your father will leave without you." She looked at me in exasperation, over the top of her glasses.
"Dearest mother," I glared at her. "I would greatly appreciate your undivided attention and the chance to get through one sentence without being interr-" I stopped at the sound of a car engine starting outside the front door. I ran to the window to see my father's car pulling out of the driveway.
"I told you he'd leave without you Amy, now you'll have to walk to school."
          My vision went blurry as I furrowed my brow in anger. If I was a cartoon, I'm sure my face would have turned a scarlet colour and steam would have blasted from my ears and nose. But this was real life, so I had to settle for a death glare directed at my mother instead.
"I cannot do this anymore, Mom. This is the final straw! No one in this house understands me. My brother delights in making my life miserable and my parents are the two most unsupportive people I know!"
The newspaper closed suddenly and my mother stood up from the table, whipping off her glasses to shoot me a glare of her own.
"Listen, Amy," she started through gritted teeth. "I don't like the tone you're using with me, your attitude is unacceptable. When you come home from school, you are grounded. No phone, no internet, no outings with friends, no parties, nothing!"
         I watched her turn and walk away, her black heels clicking with authority. At that moment, I was certain I was adopted. Why else would my family hold me in such contempt? The minute I returned home from school, I packed some clothes into my rucksack and snatched change from the money jar on the kitchen counter. And that's how I got here. I can't wait to start a life somewhere new. I will go to New York and audition for the main role in every play. I'll be so inundated with offers and congratulations that I will sky-rocket to fame. Then, my family will be sorry they never gave me the time of day. Then, all of my "exaggerated outbursts" will become a clear display of my talent and ability as an actress. I'll show them.
          I roll my eyes as a silver Renault pull up at the bus stop. My mother leans out of the open window, raising her eyebrows at me. I tilt my chin upwards. Show no emotion.
"Amy, this is ridiculous. Come home and we'll sort it out."
"No," I reply, wincing at how much I sound like a spoilt child. "If I go home, things will just go back to the way they were before. None of you appreciate me."
The smell wafts up my nostrils before I see it. A sweet, chocolaty smell of sheer heaven. Mom produces a plate of chocolate chip cookies wrapped in cling film. My mouth waters.
"Peace offering?" she asks.
I exhale in defeat and smile. Maybe she does understand me.