6

Its not selfish to put yourself first when you create your life. When you take time for yourself you make everything better. 

~Tom Anderson

My eyes flattered open at the sound of my alarm clock ringing and with a groan I shut it off and forced myself out of bed into the bathroom. 

With a sigh I grabbed a scrunchie and tied my hair into a bun so it wouldn't get soaked while I took a shower. Stripping out of my pyjamas I got into the shower cubicle and twisted the tap letting the warm water fall on my body. 

After the shower I got out, wrapped my body in a towel and dried myself before I went to the sink and brushed my teeth. 

"Good morning sunshine." I greeted myself as I stated at my reflection in the mirror above the sink. 

Going back into my room I went to the closet and started looking for what to wear. 

Yes I had outfits picked out for a whole month but today was different, it was a weekend but not just any normal weekend, my grandparents were having the family get together they held every few months. My mother and I alongside most of my extended family were expected to attend. 

"Why aren't you done yet." My mother frowned looking at my body, I was dressed in a white floral knee-length dress and black cardigan. 

"I'm done." I stated at her confused. 

"That's what you're wearing." She snarled. "Move." She pushed me to the side and invaded my closet. "You can't to anything right." 

"I'm sorry." I sighed looking at the ground.

"Here wear this." She tossed a pair of dark jeans and a tan turtle neck sweater. "And hurry up, I don't want to miss my flight because of you." 

With that she walked out. 

I quickly slipped into the clothes and a pair of white converse before grabbing my backpack and weekender bag that I had packed 2 nights before and leaving my room. 

"Let's go." My mother ordered when I reached the bottom of the stairs where she stood staring at her phone intensely. 

Arnold grabbed my luggage as my mother's and walked through the front door. 

I was kind of hungry because I had gone to bed on an empty stomach last night so I quickly dashed to the kitchen and grabbed some snacks before going to the car and getting in. 

"Your chewing is irritating." My mother snapped with a glare. 

"Sorry." I sighed putting away the snacks. 

"That's all you can do, apologize." She gained and went back to her phone. 

Whenever we had this family trip my mother always got worked up and ended up unleashing her anger on me, I understood that my grandparents demanded alot from her and she let them down when she got pregnant with me but that wasn't my fault. 

She hated being reminded of her mistakes but no one, especially her siblings would give the subject a rest, especially when I was around. I was the salt being rubbed into her wounds. 

Reaching the airport we got onto the plane. Thankfully our seats where different, hers was 3 seats in front of mine and I couldn't be any happier. It was a 6 hour flight and I needed to have some peace of mind before I reached my place of torment. 

Taking my seat I got comfortable and plugged in my iPods and my favourite song filled my ears. Removing the snacks I had packed earlier I munched on them and read my book. 

'PEACE' 

I whispered to myself. 

The six hours flight came to an end quicker than I wanted and I was back in the car with my mother. 

"Are you ok?" I asked her, she looked very uneasy and I understood why, she always got like that when it came to my grandparents. 

"Yes, do I look sick?" She asked trying to calm herself. 

"It's going to be ok, it's just 2 days." I squeezed her hand offering some comfort. 

"Right." She nodded. "You should stay out of trouble." 

"Yes ma'am." I nod. 

"Good, we can't have your grandparents-" 

"Mum I know." I told her. She gave me this lecture every single time we had these gathering, at this point I had mastered what she would say word for word. 

"I hope so." She huffed and turned her head looking out the window. 

I did the same but our hands remained intertwined. In as much as she would snap at me for no reason, I was the only one who understood how she felt when it came to her family because I experienced it too. She was some sort of comfort for me and I was hers as well. 

"We're here." My mother breathed out as the Uber came to a halt in my grandparents driveway. 

"Yay." I frowned taking a deep breath and getting out of the car. 

Still standing by the car door I looked at the lavish compound, I hadn't been here in months and the place looked better than before, with the green grass looking greener than ever and blossoming flowers. 

"Lyra." My mother whisper yelled snapping me back to reality. "This is not the the time or place for you to be zoning out." 

"Sorry." I sighed grabbing my bag from the polite driver and mumbling a thank you. 

I contemplated getting back into the Uber and getting as far away as I could from my mother's family but the second the front door opened reviling my grandparents I knew it was too late for that, I had no choice but to take all the hate they would dish out. 

"Patricia." My grandmother greeted walking down the steps with my grandfather help. 

"Mother." My mother responded with a fake smile. "Father." 

My eyes followed the Uber as it drove out the compound and I couldn't help but feel my heart sink when the black gate closed shut. I was in prison. 

"Lyra!" My mother snapped lowly tagging on my arm. 

Blinking I turned my attention to them.

"I see concentration I still a problem for you." My grandfather taunted. 

"Hello grandfather." I responded with a smile. "Grandmother." 

"Hello Lyra." She looked at me from head to toe, taking in my appearance. "Why don't you come in, everyone is already here." 

"You are the last ones to arrive, as usual." Grandfather commented lowly. 

"Our flight got delayed a little." My mother explained. 

"It always does." He spoke lowly but we heard him. 

Ignoring the comment we went inside and I was shown to the room I used whenever we were here. 

"Look who decided to show this time." My cousin Ruby teased. 

"Didn't get chicken pox this time." My other cousin Marie added and the two burst out laughing. 

"Hi." I forced a smile and decided to ignore their comments. 

Moving to my side of the room, which I shared with them as well as my other cousin Sera, I placed my bags on the single bed spread with blush pink sheets and a matching comforter and pillows. 

Taking off the converse on my feet I removed my Crocs and slid them on before unpacking my things and packing them in the drawers beside my bed. 

"Hi Lyra." Sera waved standing at the door. 

"Hey." I responded before getting comfortable on my bed. It was smaller than the bed I had back home but still comfortable. 

Marie, Sera and Ruby left the room leaving me to some peace and quiet. I never liked any of my cousins, they always taunted and teased me the entire time we were on these family gatherings and no one could defend me. 

After what seemed like forever, I was called down for lunch. 

Not wanting to get yelled at I rushed to the huge dinning room and took a seat at the table between my male cousin. As always my grandmother had a buffet prepared. 

My grandparents were very wealthy people and so were their kids, my mother included.

"Let's say grace." My grandfather announced and we all interlinked put hands. 

He gave a short prayer and everyone dag in. 

"You need to eat more, you look malnourished, it's embarrassing." My grandmother taunted me. 

"Yeah, don't you feed her Patricia." My mother's only sister, Aunt Greta mocked my mother.

"What would you expect when she inherited most of her father's genes." Uncle Benjamin, their brother added. 

"I told her not to get involved with that boy." My grandfather chimed in. "But no she never listened, now look at what she's stuck with." He glanced at me bitterly. 

'This is going to be a long weekend.' I frowned already tired.