All my life I have craved. Not for anything huge or extravagant, but simply what I deserve. Respect. Is that too much to ask for? In fact, it’s not respect, even. Only recognition; no, acknowledgement.

Mmm... The smell of home-made waffles and sweet honey syrup wafted up to my room. I opened my eyes and squinted slightly as the sunlight peeked through from a gap in the curtains. I turned away from the window and looked around the room. White walls with a splash of colours as bits and pieces of art hung from the wall; pleasant, simple and yet, sophisticated. I heard footsteps coming up the stairs, towards my room. I looked to the door, watching the doorknob turn expecting mum to come bursting in inviting me down to a warm homely breakfast. I braced myself as the door opened for her to come dragging me out of bed – literally. I heard the click of the doorknob and a screech filled the air.

“Mia, come here now and help get your siblings ready for school!” came the high-pitched voice, dragging me roughly out of sleep.

It was only a dream, I told myself as I quickly got ready for school. It will never come true. In the kitchen, the smell of stale cigarette smoke hung in the cool morning air. I glanced around the small room. The walls were patched and dirty with crayon drawings, the tiled floors were stained yellow and brown, the table tops were also losing their colour. The small trailer was cluttered with pots, pans, children’s books and littered with bits of paper and stationary from Joe and Sue’s art and craft attempt last night.

My heart sank. It was a dream and nothing can change that fact. No, it can, I can. I will. One day I shall leave all this behind me. A two-storey home with a garden and a puppy. I’ve never had a pet before; mother would never allow them, not with three children and a good-for-nothing husband under her belt.

But I will, I swear I will.