As a child, I had no concept of money. Plus, my mother would always whisper to my father and me about how hard life was for my aunt and her family. Over time, I began to believe it too. We were family, after all. We lived under the same roof. So, helping them out wasn’t a big deal … right?
It all changed when she deceived me. She told me the bank was pressuring us over the mortgage and that we were drowning in debt. She begged me to hand over my savings to help the family through an emergency crisis.
When I finally gave her everything that I had, then she turned her body and gave all the money to my aunt. She did it so my cousin, Mateo, had the money to study abroad.
At that time, something clicked in my mind and I felt wronged. I almost fell to my knees and pleaded with my mother to explain.
She just sighed and said, "Mateo wants to go abroad. You should let him."
She continued, "Your grandfather’s last wish was for me to take care of my little sister. Have some understanding, will you?” “
“You know for yourself that your aunt has a tough life. Besides, Mateo is always more capable than you. He’s going to be more successful man too! What are you so jealous of?" she then added.
Even though I had wept and begged to them, even at a point I had refused to eat, but all I got was mockery.
That bank account had held every scholarship I had earned since high school. They held every cent I made from part-time jobs since I was a high school student. That was my capital for studying abroad and it held a total of thirty-seven thousand and five hundred dollars.
"What are you doing standing and daydreaming there like that? Your brother and his fiancée are too starving!"
She stood in the kitchen doorway as she impatiently urged me, "Whatever’s ready, bring it out! Your brother and his fiancée have a weak body. They have to eat first! They can’t go hungry!"
She looked so worried for their wellbeing.
I made sixteen dishes to be served on the table. However, by the time I set the last dish on the table, the only things left were just some scraps. There were some garlic, chili peppers and a bit of vegetable broth left. So, I had picked through the remains to search for something edible. However, there was nothing left anymore.
Forget it I thought.
It had always been like this. Then and now.