“But you let Alex stay there. Why not me?” I asked, my voice a little Sharp than I meant.
My mom’s gaze hardened like I’d said something I shouldn’t have.
“Alex needs it, Jess. He’s been struggling with things, and we’ve already told you. You need to handle your own stuff. Don’t ask for special treatment.”
The words felt like a slap in the face.
“Alex is struggling?” I repeated, my voice shaking now. “What about me? I’ve been struggling too, but apparently I don’t matter enough for a little help.”
The room went silent for a few moments, and I could feel the tension in the air. My parents didn’t seem to care care about the situation. They just sat there as if I was being unreasonable.
And Alex? Well, of course, when I mentioned it to him later, he laughed.
“You really think I’m going to let you move in here?” he asked, snickering. “No way, Jess. It’s my place now. Figure it out.”
So after that, I tried to put it out of my mind. It wasn’t easy, but I had no choice. I couldn’t just sit around begging for a place to stay. I had to make things work.
So I moved into a tiny studio apartment that I could barely afford. It was cramped, but it was mine, and I didn’t have to rely on anyone.
But as much as I hated the situation, the bitterness stayed with me. Every time I saw my parents or Alex, I couldn’t shake the feeling that they had abandoned me.
I was the one who needed a hand up, not Alex, who had been living rentree in a house he didn’t even care about, acting like it was his personal Palace. But they all kept defending him.
