After finishing my tea, I decided to give sleep another try. I quietly made my way back upstairs, careful not to wake anyone, and slipped into bed. This time, I fell into a deep, uninterrupted sleep, the exhaustion finally taking over.
When I woke up, the room was filled with the soft light of morning. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was much later than I usually woke up. I had slept in, catching up on the rest I desperately needed. The sounds of voices and the clatter of dishes drifted up from downstairs, indicating that everyone was already up and about.
Still feeling drained, I reached for my dressing gown and wrapped it around myself. I didn't have the energy to get dressed. Moving slowly, I made my way downstairs, feeling like the life had been sucked out of me. I was so tired, and I didn't have an appetite at all.
The kitchen was filled with the comforting sounds of breakfast being made and the quiet chatter of my family. Despite my exhaustion and lack of appetite, being surrounded by their support made me feel a little stronger. I knew I had a long way to go, but with them by my side, I felt like I could face whatever challenges lay ahead. However, my mood was still sour, and I found myself snapping at small things, unable to control the irritation bubbling under the surface.
"Can you please keep it down?" I snapped at Dylan when he dropped his fork.
"Sorry," he mumbled, looking hurt.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I didn't mean it like that. I'm just... tired."
Mum placed a plate of pancakes in front of me, but the sight of food made my stomach turn. "I'm not hungry," I said, pushing the plate away.
"Maddie, you need to eat something," Mum insisted gently.
"I said I'm not hungry!" I snapped, immediately regretting my tone but too tired to apologize properly.
The room fell into an awkward silence. Mum looked hurt, but she nodded and took the plate away. "If you change your mind, let me know," she said softly.
"Just leave me alone," I muttered, feeling the frustration boil over.
"Maddie, there's no need to be rude," Mum said, trying to stay calm. "We're all trying to help you."
"Well, maybe I don't want your help!" I shouted, feeling a surge of anger.
Dad looked up from his newspaper, his expression stern. "Maddie, that's enough. Go to your room."
I glared at him, the anger still bubbling inside me. "No, I'm tired of being told what to do. I just want to be left alone!"
"Not when you're treating everyone like this," Dad said firmly. "You can't just take out your frustrations on us."
"I'm not trying to!" I shouted, my voice breaking. "I'm just... so tired."
Mum put her hand on Dad's arm. "Maybe we should give her some space."
But Dad shook his head. "No, this needs to be addressed now. Maddie, you can't treat people like this just because you're having a hard time."
"I don't care!" I yelled. "I can't deal with this right now."
The argument escalated, voices rising and tension filling the room. Mum eventually took Lauryn and Dylan upstairs, away from the conflict.
"You're acting like a child," Dad said, his voice still firm but laced with concern. "We all love you, but we can't help you if you're pushing us away and being rude."
"Just stop!" I cried, feeling drained and defeated. "I don't want to talk about it anymore."
"You don't get to treat everyone like shit and then just walk away," Dad said, not backing down.
"Fine!" I screamed, storming out of the kitchen and up to my room, slamming the door behind me. I threw myself onto my bed, tears streaming down my face. I felt so overwhelmed, so exhausted, and utterly alone. All I wanted was some peace and quiet, but it seemed like that was too much to ask for.
As I lay there, the silence of my room was a stark contrast to the chaos downstairs. I knew Dad was right, I couldn't keep treating everyone this way, but I was too tired to care at that moment. I just needed everything to stop, even if just for a little while.
