h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oh great... How are you coping?

I'm coping. He told me he wanted my bed back today He backpedalled pretty quickly though.

Why would he want your bed?

Apparently the two he already has aren't enough. The bed's literally the only thing I have left that I didn't pay for, I guess he figured he could just take it.

I'm getting quite angry at all those smegheads who are putting you through this. They seem to be *completely* self-absorbed. Shall I send you a voodoo doll or two?

Tell me about it If anything, my dad's acting better than my mum at the moment. Every chance she gets she brings up her therapy or medication (I got a letter yesterday that literally starts 'my therapist says...'), and lately she's been sending me messages accusing me of being angry with her for some reason.

If life is going to continue to be this hard I'm gonna ask for my money back

You, angry with your mum? Whatever for? And I wouldn't call asking for your bed back acting *better*...

I think it's a case of 'caveat emptor'...

Writing you a mail.

She says I'm not replying to her messages, but I reply to them all. So either I'm not getting hers or she's not getting mine. I tried to explain, but I think she's just feeling insecure. And I don't want to be selfish, but I have far too much to worry about without having to worry about her as well.

Maybe you *should* be selfish for a change...

Maybe But I'm not like that, I'm seriously independent. I'd rather handle everything alone than ask for help or show weakness. Whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, right?

Got your email and replied

Very true. But being strong sometimes (just sometimes) means being selfish, too - to protect yourself.

(s off to check)

I think I'm being selfish enough I'll be living alone in Brisbane, or at least with strangers, rather than with her. And I'm actually glad that my grandparents won't allow my cats, because I don't want to live with them, or with her the way she is now. And I'll be close, so we can still go shopping and stuff.

Good. Taking control of your own life is the best way to get through this.

Yeah. Like I said in my email, I just need to get on with my life. I need to be settled with a routine and the security of knowing where I'm gonna be living in a month and that I can afford to buy food for the next week.

Yeah, that's always a reassuring thought...

Yeah. And I'd better get a job with internet access or I might just go mad You may not be able to tell.

Maybe not...