“I’m Olivia, and I’m five years old. People say I always smile, like everything is easy for me. I like that, even though it’s not always true. I live with my mum in a small house in Brae. We walk everywhere because we don’t have a car, but I don’t mind. It means we get time together.
Mum works part-time and I know she has to plan what she buys very carefully. Food, heating, clothes—she thinks about all of it. In winter, it gets cold, and we huddle together under blankets as the heating isn’t on in the bedrooms. Sometimes the house feels damp, and Mum worries about my cough.
We live on an island, and Mum says things cost more here—especially food. Sometimes we get help, like vegetables from my granny or support from the food bank, even though Mum wishes we didn’t need it.
I love decorating my room with drawings and fairy lights. Mum says we can make it special without spending money. I like going to the beach too, picking stones that feel magical.
I miss my dad. He’s far away in prison, and we can’t afford to visit him. I draw pictures for him instead.
Mum gets tired, but I can tell she’s trying her best, and that makes me feel safe, even when things are hard.”
