08/07/2025
After the family reunion, I checked my bank account — it was empty. my brother-in-law laughed, “we needed it more than you.” shaking, I reached for my bag and said, “then you won’t mind what happens next.” as they chuckled, a loud bang echoed through the house. the door slammed open — and…
“Are you seriously mad about this?” Seth leaned against the fridge, a beer in his hand, that smug half-grin glued to his face. “Relax. We needed it more than you.”
I blinked, my thumb hovering over the refresh button on my banking app. I’d already hit it three times. It still showed the same number: $4.87. That couldn’t be right. Yesterday, I had over $14,000.
“$14,000? You… what?” My voice cracked.
Sarah, my sister, let out a laugh from the couch. She looked completely unbothered, legs curled under her, sipping wine like this was just another episode of Family Game Night. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” she said. “It’s not like we stole it. We’re family.”
“You drained my account.”
“It’s not ‘draining’ if we’re going to pay it back,” Seth added with a shrug. “Eventually.”
My mouth opened, but no sound came out. I looked at Mom, sitting across the room with her knitting. She didn’t even glance up. “Mom,” I said, louder this time. “Did you know about this?”
She sighed, as if I’d just accused her of ruining dinner. “Sweetheart, you’re always so sensitive. You have a good job, no mortgage, no kids. You live alone. You’re fine.”
“So that justifies stealing from me?”
“Language, Mason,” Dad muttered without looking up from his phone.
I turned to Sarah. “How did you even get access?”
“You left your info on the family computer,” she said, utterly unapologetic. “Maybe next time don’t log in and walk away. Honestly, it’s your own fault.”
My own… I stopped myself, my fingers curling into fists, my breathing gone shallow.
“You’re making this a bigger deal than it needs to be,” Seth said. “It’s not like we wasted it. We paid rent, bought groceries. You know, survived.”
“You didn’t ask.”
“We didn’t think we had to!” Sarah snapped. “You’ve been paying for stuff for years. What’s the difference if it comes through you or from you?”
I picked up my bag slowly. No one moved. No one apologized. No one even looked surprised.
“You’re leaving already?” Mom asked.
“Yep,” I said, zipping my coat. “But don’t worry. I’ll be in touch.”
“Don’t be like that,” Sarah rolled her eyes. “We needed it more than you. That’s just facts.”
I reached for the doorknob and paused. “Then you won’t mind what’s coming next.”
They laughed. But outside, something had already started. This wasn’t the first time. For years, I had been the responsible one, the one with the stable job, which somehow made me the family wallet. It started small. Sarah forgot her phone bill; I covered it. Seth lost his job; I lent him something to get through the month.
“You’re lucky, Mason,” Mom would say, her voice sweet but sharp underneath. “God gave you ease so you could share it.”
“Family means supporting each other,” Dad would chime in. Translation: We gave you life, now give us your paycheck. Watch: [in comment]
