Eliza's POV:
13 December, Manchester
The sound of breaking glass was deafening. The house was filled with chaos that morning, as if an earthquake had blown through it. My mind felt like it was unraveling, and my head throbbed with heat. There was a strange ache in my heart too because I had just moved to this new town. I didn't want to be here. In Bristol, I had friends. I wanted to be with them. But my parents had settled here, and no matter how much I protested, they always treated me as if I had no right to speak.
"I think your daughter has gone mad. I'm losing control. I don't know why she is behaving this way!" my mom shouted, her voice sharp with anger.
"Look, it's understandable," Dad said cautiously. "She had friends there and used to hang out with them. Moving to a new city is really difficult for her."
"It doesn't mean she can behave like this. No… sorry, I have to stop her!" Mom said, rushing toward my room.
Her face was flushed, and so was mine.
For a moment, the room went silent when she entered.
"What's this nonsense, Eliza? I know you didn't want to come here, but it doesn't give you the right to create chaos in this house!"
I sighed, feeling the tension in my chest.
"Oh really? Then I think if I stay in this house, it's never going to be calm, right? So please… I would be glad if you send me back to Bristol."
"Eliza, listen to me," Mom said, trying to calm me. "Here, you can enroll in a new university, and I believe you can make new friends. Life doesn't stay in one place forever. It goes on. So please… calm down."
"Are you serious, Mom? I can't forget my friends," I said, my voice tinged with irritation.
"Who told you to forget them?" she raised her eyebrows, surprised.
"I want to see them, hang out with them."
"You can talk to them on the phone. What's the big deal?"
"You never understand, Mom," I muttered.
"Listen, dear. Tomorrow, you're going to enroll in your new university, and your dad will go with you. So behave yourself. Start a new life here," she said firmly before leaving my room.
I sat on my bed, engulfed in confusion. How could I ever settle here? How would I manage at the new university? Would I ever find someone to share everything with?