How our lives changed - thepurplebutterfly (nonfiction book recommendations .TXT) 📗

I want to that so much that I feel like I could break down at any moment, but I don't for you. I put on a brave face and a smile so you guys can feel better." I explained, I could hear all the emotions seeping into my voice and it made me start to shake.
"No Ly, I'm sorry. I should have told you upfront that there was no way I would want her royal toxicness around. I just knew that when she came back she would transform back to the 'old Steph'. The one phone call every six months to complain to mum was all I could really handle. I mean she basically ruined our lives before and you knew that so I don't know why you called her... Probably thought she had changed but come and be realistic about it." She said.
"You got me. That's what hope does to me." I gave her a worn out smile and reached out to hug her.
"You guys really don't know how to talk quietly do you? I heard my name so I came out here to hear 'I just knew that when she came back she would transform back to the 'old Steph'. The one phone call every six months to complain to mum was all I could really handle. I mean she basically ruined our lives before'" Steph was leaning against the door frame.
"Anna, take Elise and go and check on Chris for me." I ordered. She gave me a pleading look. "Go Anna." Soon she shuffled down the hall down the hall with Elise on her hip.
"So, what are you gonna say? Tell me its okay and apologize?" she mocked.
"Wipe that smug smirk off you face. Just because your older doesn't mean you can act like a bitch, just because you destroyed our childhoods doesn't me you have to be a freaking jerk 24/7. And no, you can go if you want. I know I should have listened to Anna. You can stay and ruin our 'teenagehoods' or you can stay under certain conditions." I said looking her in the eye. I walked straight past her into the kitchen and started to clean up breakfast.
"What are your conditions?" she enquired.
"First, you don't complain unless its worth complaining about. So nothing about your looks love life, unless its really important, mani-pedi's how you can't work technology or anything you used to badger us with. Secondly, focus on the bigger picture of our family and other people than yourself, like Dad." I explained.
"What will you do if I go?"
"Carry on. We may struggle but not because your not here because we're gonna realize that most the little things mum did we took for granted. We will survive though." I answered truthfully.
"I try not be that way," she mumbled. "I didn't think it was so bad."
I closed the dishwasher and looked up at her. "Well it is." I said bluntly.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"I'm sorry too," I looked her straight in the eyes again.
"Hugs?" I nodded and buried myself in her arms.
"I love it when your like this, Steph." I admitted
"I love you too." She laughed.
"Things aren't better with Anna and that is something your gonna have to try and fix everyday." I warned.
"I know. I don't understand what her problem is though," she said. I just rolled my eyes.

What Anna did to Chris under stress

"I WANT LYHLA!" A scream came from the end of the hall where Chris's room is. I ran down towards it and bursted through the bedroom door.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Anna was saying she was crunched up in the corner. As soon as she saw me she ran straight into my arms.
"What happened?" I asked. Elise was sitting on the bed gurgling. Steph came in right behind me and went straight to her searching her for any signs of harm.
"I just couldn't handle it and well..." I looked over to Chris. Tears were once again streaming down his face. He had his arms outstretched towards me. There was a large cut down his forearm and crimson blood was seeping and sliding down his arm.
"Anna, how and why did you do that?" I asked rushing to his aid with handfuls of tissues.
"I'm sorry. I can't really explain it. I was anxious and nervous and he kept clutching my leg and crying my name." She said.
"So you, you hit him?" I asked. Chris's screams were getting louder and louder.
"No I grabbed what I could reach and it just happened to be scissors. I'm sorry," she answered.
"Anna what are you meant to do when your mad? Take a breath, turn around and count to five. Ok go to your room. I'll be in there soon." I said. She nodded her head glumly and walked out of the room.
"Whats wrong with her?" Steph asked.
"She has anxiety issues and can't handle stressful situations well and anger is almost nearly uncontrollable for her." I replied
"Why?"
"Uhh, you." I said.
"Me?" she asked, surprised. I just rolled my eyes at her. "Sorry, I'm doing it again aren't I?" I nodded.
"Aw Chris, are you ok?" I sighed.
"No!" He cried even louder this time.

I leaned down and scooped him up and placed him on the table in the room. I cleaned the blood away. The cut wasn't that big and not deep enough to need stitches. I ripped open a band aid and placed it over the cut.

"All better bub?" I smiled. He sniffled as he nodded. "Ok, wanna watch some TV?"
"Yes, please."
I picked him, his blanket and his koala up and walked to the TV room. I turned on the TV and put The Lion King

on. I wrapped him in his blanket and he snuggled up to his koala.

"Do you want some milk?" I smoothed his hair and rubbed his arm.
"Yes please," he mumbled.

I walked into the kitchen and pulled the milk out of the fridge. God, we need to go to the shops, I thought. I poured it into his sippy cup and twisted the lid back on. I placed it in the microwave.

"Chris is watching The Lion King

, do you want to allow Elise to sit with him and watch it as well. I asked as I saw Steph enter the kitchen clutching her phone and baby.
"Ok, I gotta go get some stuff from the shops. Will you watch her for me?" she said.
"Sure. Oh and can you get these for me?" I ripped the list off the notepad and handed it to her.
"Yes I can... How long has it been since you last shopped?" She asked reading the list.
"3 weeks." I replied, "you can use Dad's account considering its household stuff."
"Right. Cya Elise, mummy will be home soon. Cya later kiddo." She said glancing at me as she walked towards the for.
"Um, Steph?"
"What?" She turned around to face me.
"I can't watch Elise if she isn't here now can I?" I replied holding Chris's sippy cup.
"Oh haha right." She laughed awkwardly.
She handed me Elise and walked out the door.
"I worry about your mum." I said to Elise.

I walked into the TV room. I placed Elise in the armchair with a pillow and gave Chris his milk.

Helping Anna

I opened the freezer grabbed the chocolate ice cream, or what was left of it, grabbed two spoons and headed for Anna's room. I stood outside her door and heard muffled sobs floating out through the gap under the door. I softly turned the door knob and opened the door.

"Hey. Why are you crying?" I said cooly.
"Well, my mum is gone, my sister is absolutely crazy, my brother doesn't trust me I'm actually pretty sure he hates me. The only good things right now are you, dad and our secret ice cream chats." She sobbed.
I handed her a spoon and jumped on her bed landing right opposite her. "And Bella, Ally, Turner and Trent." I said shoving my spoon in my mouth.
"Not anymore," she sniffled.
"Why do you say that?"
"Uhh, because they said so, well at least Bella did. Trent, Ally and Turner just don't have the guts to stand against her." She answered.
"Why?"
"Personal reasons."
"Who else you gonna tell?" I asked and she nodded. "Did you assure them that you were ok, and you weren't mad them or anything?"
"No?" she said.
"There's a problem. Why didn't you?" I enquired.
"Because when I wasn't at the hospital crying, I was here crying. If not by her bed savouring every last moment with her." She replied.
"An, number one rule to a friendship: communication, assurance and contact." I said.
"There are exceptions."
"No there aren't. If you don't get to text before you go to sleep, send one first thing when you wake up. You'd better call them." I said.
"Why? They hate me. I'm not available 24/7." She snapped.
"If you didn't have your mobile I would except that excuse, as would your friends. But guess what sunshine you do!" I quipped.
"For emergencies only."
"Then don't give them the number."
"I don't want to loose my friends. I can't," she whimpered.
"Want some help?" I offered taking a fairly large scoop of ice cream.
"Yes."
"Give me your phone." I ordered.
"What? No, you have your own." She said.
"Come on! for this plan to work we need to go back to square one." I said.
"You're annoying." She said handing me her phone.
"Ok. Now your going to call, message or whatever to tell your friends why you haven't made any contact for ages and you're going to apologize." I explained finishing off the ice cream.
"What?" She asked.
"Do you and your friends have Facebook?" I wondered.
"Yeah but I lost my laptop," she confessed.
"When? Better yet how?" I asked.
"Last month. I put it somewhere and I forgot where." she explained.
"Ok, you'll have to call them." I said.
"Can I do it later? They'd all be at school." She looked up at me.
"Don't put it off to long." I warned.
"Yeah, ok,"