When she reached home, Raven got the mail and went inside. She used her key since her mother wasn’t home. Then again, when was anyone home?

“As always, I walk into an empty house,” she sighed, “or should I say prison.”

Feeling hungry, Raven put her bag down and got a snack before taking her shower. Once she finished, she changed into her pajamas and went downstairs to watch TV. All the homework she had was completed at school, so she had the evening to herself.

Raven liked the house being empty, but at the same time, she hated it. The days were all the same. Go to school, come home, watch TV, listen to music, maybe sing…She wondered if this cycle would ever end.

“Stop complaining, you should be grateful!” she cried to herself. “But why can’t I? I miss them. All the happy memories that were made…We can’t make them anymore. Taylor’s gone, dad’s away, Austin lives in another city, and mom…she just hates me.”

Upon hearing the garage door open, she knew her mother was home. Raven immediately wiped her tears and flopped back on the couch, pretending to watch TV.

Her mother came through the door with her bag. She walked in complaining how much her feet hurt. Raven’s mother was a nurse, so the complaints were normal.

“Hi, Raven,” she spoke nonchalantly.

“Hi, mom,” Raven replied.

Knowing the routine, Raven got up and prepared her mother’s evening routine. Her tea brewed just a certain way, her work containers washed, and the computer turned on. Once everything was done, Raven went up to her room. She jumped on the bed and began to listen to her music, the only thing that kept her sane.

Not long after her music started playing, her brother called. Austin’s time zone was a few hours ahead of her, so she normally waited for him to call. This especially drove him crazy, since he preferred her to call him. The two talked for about an hour until he had to leave for work. Raven loved the sound of her brother’s voice. At least there was someone she could talk to.

“Raven!” her mother called.

With an annoyed sigh, the girl answered, “Coming!”

She walked downstairs and asked what her mother needed. “Warm my tea,” her mother said.

Raven took the lukewarm cup of tea and place it into the microwave. After 30 seconds, Raven returned the hot tea to her mother, her expression remaining indifferent as she handed the cup over. This prompted the woman’s usual ire. “Don’t you dare give me an attitude! Go upstairs!” she yelled.

With an unrepentant shrug, Raven did as she was told. She would always be blamed for everything, from the internet not working to the heating bill rising. Raven always wondered how a heating bill could rise when she always set the temperature to 55 degrees and froze herself solid.

She did so much, but her mother never acknowledged her. The only safe place was her mind. The only place she could ever be free from all of this! Escape from this prison they called a home!

Her eyes became wet with tears as her throat began to tighten. She never understood the meaning behind her prison. Why she was hated so much? Was she that much of a burden? First her sister, then her father, and now…Raven knew the old saying, “be careful what you wish for.” But she didn’t care.

“I wish I was free.”