That had to be enough. It had to be.
I didn’t sleep that night. I lay in bed staring at the ceiling while Marcus snored softly beside me, my mind racing through every conversation, every moment, wondering if I’d been too harsh, too cruel, if there was still time to undo what I’d done.
At 3:47 a.m., I got up and checked my phone. Forty-three text messages. Seventeen missed calls. Three voicemails.
I opened the texts first, watching them load in chronological order.
Mom, 10:15 PM: You need to call me right now. This is unacceptable.
Dad, 10:17 PM: Your mother is very upset. Call her immediately.
Mom, 10:22 PM: How could you do this to us? How could you be so selfish?
Danny, 10:31 PM: What the hell did you do? Mom and Dad are freaking out.
Mom, 10:45 PM: We raised you better than this. This is not how family treats family.
Dad, 10:52 PM: If you don’t call by morning, we’re driving up there to talk to you in person.
That one made my blood run cold. I immediately texted back: If you show up at my apartment, I will call the police. Do not come here.
The messages continued, varying between pleading and angry, sometimes within the same text.
Mom, 11:07 PM: Sarah please, we need to talk about this like adults. You’re being emotional and rash.
Mom, 11:15 PM: Fine. Be stubborn. But don’t come crying to us when you need help.
Dad, 11:23 PM: You’re making a huge mistake. Family is forever. Money is temporary. You’ll regret this.
Danny, 11:34 PM: I can’t believe you did this. They’re both crying. Mom can barely breathe. You need to fix this.
I texted Danny back: Did they tell you they skipped Lily’s birthday party to attend a dinner party at your house? Did they tell you Dad said they don’t count my family the same as yours? Did they tell you they’ve been spending the $550 I send them every week on trips to see you?
Three dots appeared immediately. Disappeared. Appeared again.
Danny, 3:51 AM: I didn’t know about the money. They never mentioned it.
Me: Because they didn’t want you to know they were bleeding me dry while telling me my life was too depressing to visit. They made their choice. This is mine.
I put the phone down and went to check on Lily. She was asleep in her small room, clutching the stuffed unicorn Sofia had given her at the party. Her face was peaceful, innocent, unaware of the storm happening around her.
