Her Rules
“Tim, don’t forget your summer assignments,” my mother called from the kitchen, her voice a mix of authority and worry.
“I haven’t forgotten, Mom,” I replied, not looking up from the book in my hand. I didn’t need to. She knew I never did.
Home. The word carried comfort, safety, and chaos I barely tolerated. I’d been away at university for months, living in a world that demanded small talk, forced friendships, and constant performances. I thrived in solitude. I thrived in control. And now, back in the house I’d grown up in, I could breathe again.
I walked into the living room, where my sister, Jessie, was sprawled on the couch, scrolling through her phone. “Hello, Cinderella,” she teased. “Aren’t you done with cleaning the house and cooking? I’m confused—what has the uni done to you?”
I raised an eyebrow. “I survived,” I said flatly, dropping onto the chair opposite her.
She laughed. “Only survived? I expected some epic stories of drama, heartbreak, or scandal.”
I smirked faintly. “No drama. No heartbreak. That’s my style. I live my life without unnecessary complications.”
She shook her head, smiling like she always did at my stubbornness. “Tim, you’re like a fortress. A really pretty, cold fortress.”
I shrugged. “Better a fortress than an open door to chaos. I believe trust has to be earned, and honestly, I don’t see men as trustworthy—not because I’ve been hurt, but because I’ve thought about it. Really thought. Trusting them blindly is like walking through fire with no protection.”
My sister blinked, a little surprised. “Wow. You make it sound like a philosophy lecture.”
I shrugged again. “It’s life. And I’m smart enough not to gamble.”
Our conversation ended there. My mother’s voice floated from the kitchen again, calling me to help her. I rose, moving through the house with quiet precision. Rules. Discipline. Distance. They weren’t restrictions—they were shields.
I paused at the window, looking out at the familiar street where the summer sunlight painted everything in gold. Most people would see warmth, laughter, freedom. I saw potential distractions, unknown risks, and too many variables. I had no need for them. Not today. Not ever.
Every day, I reminded myself of all the rules I had set—and until now, I had followed them nonstop.
It’s not like life has given me a lot of lessons; instead, I learned those harsh lessons before life even had the chance to teach them. You could say I cracked the cheat code for staying out of trouble and misery for no reason.
“Tim,” my sister called as I walked past her room. “Don’t forget, even fortresses need windows. Let some sunlight in every now and then.”
I paused, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. Maybe she was right. But rules existed for a reason, and mine were non-negotiable.
For now.
So, that’s me—Timarisse Elara Collins, Tim for short, a stubborn girl who never breaks her life rules for any stranger. And honestly? I don’t think anyone would dare to deal with a girl like me.
