“Why didn’t you?”
I looked down at the coffee cup in my hands. “Because they made it sound like leaving would destroy them.”
Grandma sat beside me. “And what was staying doing to you?”
I did not answer.
I did not need to.
By Monday, Grandpa had helped me schedule three apartment tours. Nothing fancy. One-bedroom places near my job. Clean buildings. Neighborhoods safe enough. The rent was higher than what I paid Dad, but not impossible. The difference was that paying a landlord came with a lease, privacy, and no one telling me I owed babysitting hours because my sister was tired.
On Tuesday evening, Dad called.
I nearly ignored it, but Grandpa said, “Answer only if you want to. Not because you’re afraid.”
So I answered.
Dad did not say hello.
“You’ve made your point.”
I stood in the hallway outside the guest room. “What point?”
“That you’re upset.”
“I’m not trying to make a point.”
“Your mother hasn’t slept.”
I closed my eyes. “I’m sorry she’s upset.”
“You should come home and talk.”
“We can talk. I’m not moving back tonight.”
There was a pause.
Then Dad said, “You think your grandparents are going to save you? They won’t always be around.”
The old me would have panicked.
The new me heard the sentence clearly. It was not concern. It was bait.
“I know,” I said. “That’s why I need to build my own life.”
Dad’s voice lowered. “After everything we did for you?”
A wave of exhaustion hit me. “What did you do for me that you didn’t also do for Claire?”
“We raised you.”
“You raised both of us.”
“You had a home.”
“So did Claire.”
“You had food.”
“So did Claire.”
“You’re a man, Ethan. You’re supposed to help.”
I stared at the wall. There it was. The rule hidden beneath every excuse.
Claire’s mistakes were emergencies.
My needs were selfishness.
Her comfort was family.
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My exhaustion was duty.
“I did help,” I said. “For seven years.”
