Dont tell me how to live my life.
Emily, let me go! I just cant take it anymore. This isnt a home, its a prison, sobbed her younger sister, standing right on the threshold.
She looked every bit the runaway bride. Mascara streaked down her cheeks, lips trembling. In her hands? The handle of a massive wheeled suitcase.
Hang on, just a minute Emily yawned groggily, then reluctantly stepped aside. Whats happened?
Theyre suffocating me, Em! You wouldnt believe what its like. Yesterday I came home at tenjust an hour lateand Dad grilled me like a detective, sniffing me like some police hound! Mum never knocks on the door, just barges in when Im changing, talking to mates, even when Im on a call. I have absolutely zero privacy!
Her sister rattled on, out of breath from outrage. Her grievances felt solid: at twenty, ironclad parental control really feels like hell. Who wants parents rifling through pockets, bursting into your room, demanding an account of your every move?
Dont go there, dont eat that, dont be friends with them! Lucy continued. Im not ten anymore. Im an adult! I have a right to live as I wish, not by their agenda. Today I told Dad Id be staying at Sophies to prep for exams. He just said, No sleepovers. Study at home. Can you believe it? What am I, in Year 6?
Emily listened patiently and, for a moment, actually felt sorry. Their folks were indeed a little old-fashioned, anxious, and overprotective.
Shed faced the same battles herself. At twenty, shed rebelled, too. She didnt appreciate Dad waiting by the window until eleven, or Mum always checking for her woolly hat. But Emily solved it, decisively.
Im switching to part-time, and moving out, shed declared seven years ago. Ill sort myself.
Where? How will you afford it? Mum gasped.
A friend works at a salon. They need a receptionist. Me and the girls will rent a room. Well manage. And if I cantwell, Ill come back.
Emily managed. It was tough, but she pulled through. First six months, she lived on plain pasta and slept on a saggy sofa, but nobody dictated her curfew. Her parents tried to help with money, groceries, but Emily always declined with quiet pride.
Its fine. Ive got this.
That was when she was given keys to Grandmas flat. Not so much a gift, but recognition of her independence.
Lucys story went differently.
Two years ago, her other gran passed away. Lucy inherited a two-bedroom flatshed just turned eighteen.
Thats it! shed cried, thrilled. Im practically a prime catch, with my own place. I can live on my own!
The parents exchanged baffled looks.
Well, all right, Dad said, the flats yours. Winter heating bills alone will be at least £200 if youre careful. Food? Depends what you eat, but £350 a month minimum. Travel, clothes, beauty, internet so just to live alone and keep studying, youll need at least £1,500 a month. Wheres that coming from?
Lucy fluttered her eyelashes, silent. She believed attending university on her parents dime was already doing the world a favour.
That was the end of it. Lucy didnt argueshe wasnt in a hurry to move out anyway. But what upset her was something else: her parents started renting out her flat, using the money for tuition, bills, food, clothes. Sometimes she got pocket money, but she was still dissatisfied. She wanted to live in her own flat and do nothing.
Emily recalled those fights and looked her sister over: brand new jacket, leather boots, designer bag Lucy didnt look at all like a victim of strict jailers. More like a princess complaining that her peas too hard under ten mattresses.
They took my car keys, Lucy added, wiping away tears. Said until I clear my backlog at uni, I have to take the bus. Imagineon the bus! You have to wait nearly thirty minutes for one!
Horrific, Emily replied dryly, watching her sister drag the suitcase inside. So, whats your plan now?
Sympathy was evaporating fast.
Ill stay with you. Just until they calm down and apologise. Youve got loads of space, I promise I wont disturb you, honestly. Ill just stay quietly, study
Emily pursed her lips. She didnt want to badmouth her sister, but something didnt sit right.
Lucy, she sighed, lets talk properly. You want to live like me? No control, no questions, no curfew?
Of course! Lucys eyes sparkled. I want to decide when I come home, what I wear, everything.
Brilliant. So why come to me, not rent a flat? Or a room at uni?
Lucy blinked, totally puzzled by the question.
What do you mean? I dont have any money. Im a student.
Precisely. Youre a full-time student, living off Mum and Dad. You eat their food, wear their clothes, drive the car Dad fills up, Emily counted on her fingers, Freedom, Lu, costs money. At your age, I was working and studying. You want to eat your cake and never choke on a crumb.
Youyoure not letting me stay?
Emily exhaled. She didnt want to be drawn in, but the situation left no choice.
Ill ring Mum first, she said. Want to hear their side.
Lucy hesitated, but couldnt stop her.
It was late, but Mum was still awake. The call turned heated; Emily switched it to speaker. It turned out Lucy hadnt just got a few backlogs at universityshe was verging on expulsion.
The lecturers are biased against girls! They just dont like me! Lucy protested, blushing.
Funny, everyone else passed fine, Dad retorted. What, you figured youre cleverer than the lot? Thought youd just run off to your sister and ignore the lot?
Dads right, Emily looked at Lucy, I dont shelter dropouts, and Im not your nanny.
Lucy shot her sister a glare that could cut glass.
Oh, is that it? All against me? Fine! Ill live in my own flat! Chuck the tenants out. Ill live there alonenobodyll tell me off.
Silence stretched. Lucy raised her nose, thinking shed cornered them.
Fine, Mum replied, utterly calm. No problem.
Lucy jumped.
Really? Youll throw them out? Tomorrow?
Not tomorrow. As per contract, they get two weeks, Dad replied. Youll stay with us until terms over. But Lucy You understandyoull be independent now?
Well, yes, Lucy replied, cautious.
Theres no more rent coming our way, so Dad paused, letting it sink in, Youll pay for your own tuition. Your own heating in your flat. Food, clothing, all expenseson you. We wont give you a penny. You wanted adulthood, so live like an adult.
Lucys face lengthened in shock. Clearly, shed expected her parents would keep helping.
Butbut Im studying! I cant workfull-time!
Emily managed it, Mum reminded. She switched to part-time and worked. Its your choice. Want to live alone? Go ahead. But all costs are yours. Or live with us, by our rules, and we support you. Theres no third option.
Lucy looked to Emily for support, met only her ironic smile.
Well, sister? Emily grinned. Welcome to adulthood. The cakes got a crust, hasnt it?
Six months passed. Their conversations shrank to polite updates: How are things? Fine, thanks. Emily only knew Lucy wasnt living with their parentsshe didnt dig deeper, wary of guilt trips and freeloading.
One rainy day, Emily ducked into a café near the towns central park. Behind the counter, Lucy stood.
A medium cappuccino, no sugar? Lucy asked wearily but politely.
She looked completely changed. No more eyelash extensions or glittery nailsher nails were neatly trimmed, café hygiene rules. No designer hoodie now, just a green company apron and a staff badge. Shadows under her eyes peeked out even beneath makeup.
Hi, Emily smiled, torn between pity and pride. Yeah. And a croissant, if there are any fresh ones.
Lucy nodded, not returning the smile, and got to work.
Fresh. Baked this morning.
Her movements were quick, no lazy grace. Now she fit the world, not expecting the world to fit her.
Hows uni? Emily asked, as Lucy frothed milk.
Sorted it, Lucy muttered. Switched to part-time. Easier. Actually, Mum called, asked if I needed groceries. I said no. I can manage.
Emily raised an eyebrow, surprised.
When did you get so proud?
Not proudjust sensible. If I take groceries, theyll nag again, telling me to mop floors, dust shelves. Id rather eat oats for days than hear them moan.
Emily chuckled. Lucy placed the cup down.
Thatll be £3.50.
Emily tapped her card. A beep sounded.
Is it tough? her sister asked quietly.
Lucy paused. For a moment, something childish flickered in her gazethe same as when shed arrived six months ago with a suitcase. But she pulled herself together.
Its fine. At least no one lectures me. I sold the car, by the way. Tubes quicker. And cheaper.
You did well, Lu. Honestly.
Lucy managed a crooked grin.
Yeah, did well. Sometimes I fall asleep right here, though. Anyway, off you gotheyll dock my pay for talking to customers.
Emily took a seat by the window. She watched Lucy scrub the counter till it shone.
Her sister got what she wanted at last: a life free from parental control. It wasnt so bad, really. The cake just had a crustand now you had to chew carefully, so you didnt choke.
Emily finished her coffee, slipped a crisp twenty-pound note beneath the napkin, carried her cup to the counter and left.
It wasnt charity for a poor relative. It was a tip for a good barista, whod finally learned the art of balancing expectations with reality.
