Help an 18-Year-Old Seek a Better Life

I'm 18 years old, and I recently ran away from home due to mentally draining parents.

I knew that I was homosexual ever since I was 12 years old, but my parents are homophobic, so I kept myself in the closet. It wasn't until I was 15 that I tried to come out to them, but they weren't accepting of my homosexuality, so I ultimately ruled it out as a phase, which wasn't true. I didn't have a support system at home, and this troubled me for years. I became demotivated towards anything involving family and frequently isolated myself in my room.

I'm also an older brother to 7-year-old twins. Ever since they were born, their father, who is present, has not contributed much to their lives. My mother was visibly struggling with the twins while he did nothing to help at home, so I began helping my mom out with my newborn siblings. I didn't mind this at first because I love my siblings so much, but over the years, it got to a point where I was playing the father role in a household where the father was present. I was the one helping my mom raise my siblings as infants, as toddlers, and as the big, bright kids they are today. Despite having my own homework to do, I put my siblings first and was heavily involved in their education while their father did nothing to substantially fulfill his responsibilities.

Additionally, I was also expected to take on household responsibilities (mopping the floor, cleaning the bathroom, etc.), which the father also didn't do. I was playing the role of the father for my siblings while their actual father sat passively. Everything that he should have been doing was deterred to me. It got to a point where I seldom had "me" time and was often overwhelmed.

On the night that I ran away, I was somber, so I kept to myself in my room because I felt trapped and hopeless in regard to my situation. My mother soon starts banging on my door demanding that I start doing more chores around the house because I was supposed to bathe my brother, but I was low on energy. In this moment, I felt underappreciated because she asks me everyday to bathe my brother and the one day that I felt like sitting out, she's reprimanding me for it; meanwhile, my brother's father has to be instructed to bathe his own kids. My mother threatened to put me out the house and get police involved after I shut my door on her, so I quickly grabbed my backpack, phone, and charger, then jumped out my window.

With the money that I have made so far, I was able to purchase a bus ticket to Florida, where I now live with my grandmother, clothes, and other things to keep myself clean and groomed. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to my cause thus far.

Although I've arrived to Florida some weeks ago, it is taking a while for me to find a job despite applying to numerous places. If you're able to donate so that I could buy groceries and some more clothes, that would be greatly appreciated. I trust that I will find a job soon, but it looks like I'll have to wait a while.