Even a simple day of cleaning and tidying up can turn into hell in this house. Everyone points the finger at one another, Delyla and Sadie barely do their part but are MIA when it comes to helping others with other chores. And let's not talk about Brittany, Jesse's fiancée. I don't think I can stand her anymore.

When she comes round, she always barks orders at me and my sisters, treating us worse than shit. To add insult to injury, Jesse only defends Leanne every once in a while. He has never stood by my side over his psycho fiancée, though. I hate when he's so biased.

Today, Brittany seems to be even worse than usual. She nitpicks at everything, forcing the rest of us to redo chores up to ten times if she isn't satisfied enough. Why are Mom and Dad willing to lose their dignity sucking up to that psycho? She'll give them a massive headache. But, hey, they'll gladly accept her if it means going against me. They know she hates me, which is a point in their favor.

I've just finished making beds, checking that no creases are left on blankets or linens, and am ready to move to removing curtains to get them washed when ... stops me on my tracks. "What do you think you're doing, Braverly?"

I answer, "I've got to wash curtains. They're to be washed separately, so I'll take them out and check if the washing machine is empty so that they can be ready before the evening."

She shakes her pointing finger. "No, no, no. Curtains are meant to be hand washed. But you've forgotten something else before." She takes her shoes off and throws them at my feet. She expects me to polish them now. But the curtains are the priority. What do I do now?

I leave the lone curtain I've managed to remove until now to pick up Brittany's shoes. I'm about to look for shoe polisher and a sponge, when she grabs my shoulder. "Not so fast. I've gotta tell you exactly how to clean my shoes. You have to do it that way and not as you please. Understood?" I nod and gulp, then follow her.

Brittany throws me a brush she previously found in the storage room and forces me out in the bathroom to polish her shoes. I point it out, "This brush will scratch your shoes. Isn't it better to use a sponge?"

She barks at me. "How you dare contradict me? Do as told or I'll make sure you're out of this house—and my life!" Typical of Brittany Gillespie. These are her true colors, not those of the lovebird she pretends to be with Jesse and our parents.

I shrug and brush her shoes as asked before she rats me out, discrediting me in front of my parents and Jesse. When I'm done, however, she isn't satisfied. She sees a little scratch caused by the brush and throws a fit over it. "Look at what you've done!"

I explain myself. "I tried to warn you, Brittany, but you wouldn't listen. Look, I'll do anything to fix the scratch if you let me." The more I apologize for the incident, the worse. She yells a barrage of profanities and insults at me, without letting me reply back.

"I'll tell you Jesse, then your parents. You're toast, Braverly. Now, get out of my sight!" She snatches the shoes from me, then pushes me back inside. Fine. At least I get to go back to washing the curtains. I've also got to find more tasks to keep that screaming banshee out of my hair.

***

Four hours have passed since I finished my last chore. Mom and Dad, barely standing me and making clear they prefer Brittany's company over mine, invite me to leave home not too gently. I rebut. "Fine. Then see you tomorrow."

They don't object, too busy sucking up to their new rude little missy known as their future daughter-in-law. If they, including Jesse, think she's better than me character wise, it means their morals are so twisted that they're willing to throw anyone they don't want in their circle under the bus.

Their loss, honestly. I'd rather be on my own than with any of them any longer. This also goes for Leanne, Delyla and Sadie. May they all get lost.

To get rid of thoughts of my dysfunctional family, I decide a trip to the river is the perfect way to unwind. I walk briskly, almost running, and occasionally turn back to see if Griffin pops out from nowhere to disrupt my impromptu trip.

Fortunately, I don't see him gummy face or notice his presence, much to my relief. I focus on the path to the river, only to realize I've deviated too much from the original destination. This is not the river. It's a much wider watercourse.

I stop and stare this magnificent landscape. Crystalline waters, luscious greens and complete peace. If I had my watercolor set pieces, I'd paint a little bit. Never mind. I resort to taking pictures with my phone. I'll print them when I have a chance.

I wish I could take a short swim here, but I don't think it's safe. Plus, I don't have my bikini with me. I'll keep that in mind if I want to come back here. Instead, I lie on the grass, close my eyes and start dreaming of a different reality where I'm loved and appreciated.

***

The house is cleaner than ever. Mom pats each of us' shoulders, satisfied by the result. Brittany also joins her in praise for how shiny and bright the floors look. "And look at the curtains," she adds. "They could pass off as new."

"You're so right, honey," is Jesse's comment. He brags for how curated our lawn looks, courtesy of his meticulous work. Everything here looks perfect, as it came out from a home and lifestyle magazine.

Mom invites us to head to the dining room. "Lunch will be ready in ten minutes. Let's go." I can't wait for it. I hope she has made roasted turkey and potatoes. I've craved it for months.

My wish has come true. Not only do we have that amazing course, but we're also set to finish lunch on a high note with a delicious lemon curd pie. We take our seats and serve each other. Laughter fills the dining room between one bite and another.

We spend the following hour and a quarter sharing anecdotes and asking each other questions about future plans. Dad then goes to the cellar and returns with a bottle of wine for the adults. My younger sisters and I, on the other hand, get to drink Coke.

We finish lunch with a toast. "Cheers!" I say, looking forward to the rest of the day.

***

I open my eyes after what seems to be an eternity. I take a look at the time: 6pm. Time has flown since I came here by this peaceful watercourse. I collect my things and restart walking with no direction. Unsure as to whether Mom and Dad want me back home as soon as possible, I don't take that route.

Instead, I take a different one. I'm confident no-one can disrupt my peace.