Supporting life

Chapter 1: School mornings

Monday.

I didn't know if it was the suns rays that seeped through my curtains or the rhythm of the birds songs that woke me. I took advantage of the tranquility knowing this moment for me was very rare.

I looked at my alarm clock and immediately regret it, I had to get up in ten minutes.

Smash.

What was that? I pulled my sleepy head up and looked at my bedroom door as I hear small but fast footsteps nearing. A loud nock sounds, hurting my head a little more. I groan and pull myself up so I was in a sitting position.

The person didn't even wait for a reply and my door flew open "Margo smashed a plate"

Great "What happened?" The small child shuffled awkwardly on her fragile feet "Mel" I warn.

"We were trying to make breakfast but then two plates were to much for her to carry and then....yea" She blurts out, her gaze never leaving the floor. My heart strings were plucked a little at the sight of her terrified expression. Melody was always the shy one compared to Margo who wasn't afraid of anything.

I forcefully remove my legs from my bedsheets and trudge down the stairs, Melody not far behind.

I look at the white specks that covered the kitchen floor. Margo nowhere to be seen.

"Go" I shout trying to keep my anger at bay. We were going to be late for school now.

"Yes" She strides in unfazed by my deathly stare and the mess that she had just caused.

"What do you call this?" I try to sound like our mother. That's all I've ever been trying to sound like for the past two years.

"Mess" She states the obvious.

To tired for her smart games I begin to grab the broom and dust bin and make a start on the mess. Mel begins to help but I push her away, to worried she would hurt herself "Just go and get ready for school, breakfast will be ready when you come back down" I promise pointing to the not so helpful twin "Same goes for you too"

Melody skips up the stairs shouting an ok whilst Margo takes her time and rolling her eyes in the process. She's only seven yet she still acts like a teen, god I wonder what she really will be like once she does enter the teen years of her life. Fun.

Just breathe I kept repeating. Breathe. This had become my routine since the death of our parents happened. Thrown into custody of my unreliable aunt who goes away for months on end leaving you to deal with very upset and confused five year olds and a depressed self. Although, in order to ensure the girls needs are met I push my own wants aside for theirs. They were only five when the sudden tragedy struck and I was sixteen meaning I could handle it better than them which means I've allowed myself to come last on the taking care of list.

I throw the shards in the bin and keep a beady eye out for more grains. I turn on the cooker and begin to make scrabbled eggs and bacon. I turn the radio on to help relax my stress but it still didn't help me calm. I looked at the clock which really didn't help the gut wrenching feeling in my stomach, I had spent half an hour cleaning the China off the tiles meaning I only had twenty minutes to eat, dress and pack my bag. Great.

"Girls" I holler urgently, they arrived just as I place the plates down. I eat what's left of the pots.

"When's aunty Lucy coming back?" Margo asks, she tends to speak before thinking. Melody looks anywhere but us showing how uncomfortable she is. No one should experience the wrath of aunt Lucy especially grieving seven year olds. I think about her question, knowing her pattern she should show up at the door drunk any day now.