"Lia!" Cries my mother when she turns on the light.

Groaning, I pull my blanket over my head and ignore her cackling voice. "Lia, honey? Are you listening?"

I don't respond, hoping she will take the hint and still let me sleep.

"Oh what a shame, I was just about to say you didn't have to go to work at all."

I shoot straight to my bed and look at her hopefully. "Really mom?"

My mother comes and sits on the bed and smiles. "Of course not. Get out of bed, we need to talk."

She gives a nudge to my leg and walks away.

"That was mean! I'm not your daughter anymore!" From the hallway comes laughter and I growl after which I get up.

"Good morning, sunshine." Lucian ruffles my hair as I sit down next to him at the table.

With a clap, my mother puts the teapot on the table and takes a seat as well. When Amelia joins us as well she pounces.

"Eliana, 18 is a great age to start working."

I sigh, I wasn't in the mood for this. "Mom I-."

I look at her and shake my head as a sign that she could continue.

"I totally get that you don't want to go to Everwood, but it's a great opportunity to be outside a little more, earn money and make friends." I stop chewing and look at her angrily.

"Friends are a waste of time. The only reason I don't have any is because there's no one here-" I point around and then point a stinging finger at my mother.

"I get what you mean about being outside, and no one would rather have some pocket money than me, but don't expect-" At that, I slap my hand on the table. "That I'm ever going to make friends."

With a jolt, I slide my chair off the table and look at my only family.

Amelia looks down and nervously shuffles a piece of paper back and forth, Lucian absentmindedly stirs his coffee and my mother, well she wouldn't be my mother if she didn't also slide her chair back and look at me angrily.

"Eliana, you're a grown up! At your age I had already met my friends and your father!"

She gasped and waited for my response. She knew the topic of "dad" was hard for me and now she had just thrown it around like nothing was wrong.

Blood rises to my head and I drill my nails into my palms.

"You mean those girlfriends who packed their bags when you actually needed them most! And as for Dad, I never knew my father, he left before I could walk! I also wish I had known him, I also damn well wish I had someone else who used to hold my hand when we went for walks! But guess what, it didn't work out that way, and you're not going to force me to take stupid giggling girls as "friends"!" 

I'm out of breath and notice my mother looking away in shame.

I turn my back on my still-full plate. "I'm not hungry anymore." And then I walk out.

Long after the sun had set I return home. 

Inside it is dark and I was sure everyone was already asleep. 

I take my food out of the refrigerator and eat it cold. I skipped lunch and dinner which left me with a giant hunger. The egg was a setback, but the tea was as delicious as ever.

Even though it's cold.

When I finished, I sneaked upstairs and pulled my backpack out from under my bed. It was small, but I was fond of it. I put in it a set of clothes, underwear, a hair tie and my favorite book. 

Then I sneak back downstairs to get some dry food and some water.

That's all I can get in there.

Quickly I check everything again and then string it shut.

"Paper, paper, paper." I look around.

Finding no blank sheet I grab the back of an envelope. I tap the pen against my chin.

Where would I start.

For a moment my thoughts float to the palace. What would be waiting for me there?

I swallow and then run the pen across the paper. When I finish, I pull my bag onto my back and walk out the door.

Dear Mom, Lucien and Amelia

I'm not here anymore. Not that I ran away, but I left for Everwood to work. I wanted to tell you, but then the argument erupted and I didn't have the chance.

Don't worry about me, everything will be fine. I'll see to it that a sum of money is sent here every week. Maybe not much, but I will do everything I can to get as much as I can. I am grateful to you for your care, faithfulness and love, but now it is time for me to spread my wings.

I love you guys and always will.

Eliana