Elle Vampa

I heave a massive sigh and reach for another tissue.

Only two this time, not too bad, I catch myself thinking. Despite my tears, I feel the beginnings of a smile reach the outskirts of my lips.

Humour. My magic weapon. If I can laugh, I know I’ll be alright.

I blow my nose loudly – a sound that travels devastatingly fast through this sad excuse for a vacation home.

Just for the fun of it. I mean, I’m here all alone anyway. Thank goodness for that!

What happened?

My family happened.

We’re all “happily” stuck together in a vacation home, on a vacation park, surrounded by noisy vacationers.

“We” being me, my parents, and my middle sister with her husband and two young daughters.

Now, don’t get me wrong: I love my nieces. I do.

But dear goodness are they loud! And annoyingly deaf when it suits them best.

The eldest of the two, a 7-year-old little know-it-all, caught me in an unnecessary discussion about the age of my mother. It’s silly and stupid, but it annoys me because she won’t listen and keeps “correcting” me – wrongly.

The other one, however, is worse. And she’s only 3. Where humour is my magic weapon, tears are hers.

She cries over EVERYTHING. And makes it last FOREVER!

I blow my nose again and enjoy the dying of the sound.

Silence.

I didn’t know I needed me-time so badly, but my inner built-up tension got the worst of me after we visited an indoor playground for kids. More screeching, screaming and CRYING than I could handle.

I fled and sought refuge in my bedroom, where I found relief in my tissues.

Later that night, after mercilessly beating my mother and sister in Cluedo twice I know I’m back.

From time to time, I just need some me.