«Your family isnt our responsibility,» declared James, packing his suitcase.
«Emily, did you send them money again?» He stood in the bedroom doorway, a bank statement in hand, his face twisted in frustration.
«Mum needed medicine, and her pension isnt enough,» Emily replied quietly, still ironing. The steam rose from her husbands white shirt, but her hands trembled slightly.
«How much longer? Every month its the samemedicine for your mum, repairs for your sister, tuition for your nephew!» He flung the statement onto the dresser. «Were barely scraping by ourselves, and yet you support everyone!»
Emily set the iron down, turning to him. Tears welled in her eyes, but she kept her voice steady.
«James, shes my mother. She raised me alone after Dad left. Worked two jobs just so I could finish university. Cant I help her now?»
«Helping is one thing, but this» he jabbed at the paper, «is too much. Five hundred quid in a month! We couldve had a proper holiday with that, not just another weekend at your relatives place.»
Emily silently hung the shirt. Three years of marriage, and it was always the same. At first, hed been understanding, even helped occasionally. But something had changed.
She remembered last year, when her mum needed surgery. The NHS waitlist was six months. Going private cost ten grand. Shed sold her jewellerysaved since before they marriedand took out a loan. James only found out later, furious.
«You didnt even ask me!» hed shouted. «Am I not your husband? Or does my opinion mean nothing?»
«She couldve died,» was all Emily could say.
«Your family isnt our problem,» he repeated now, zipping his suitcase. «If youd rather be with them, go ahead.»
Back then, hed stormed off to his parents for a week. Returned when shed nearly given up hope, apologisedsaid he understood her mum mattered, but begged her not to spend like that again without discussing it.
«Emily, are you even listening?» His voice snapped her back.
«I am,» she nodded. «What do you want from me?»
«I want you to realisewere the family now. Husband and wife. Not you and your mum, sister, and endless relatives. I have dreams tooa new car, a country home. But our money vanishes into thin air.»
Emily sat on the bed, clasping her hands. James was handsome, successfula manager at a top firm. When theyd met, hed seemed like Prince Charming: flowers, fine dining, sweet words. Hed seemed to accept her, obligations and all.
«You used to say family was sacred,» she murmured.
«I meant ours. Not» he waved a hand, «this crowd.»
Her phone rangher sister, Lucy.
«Hello?» she answered cautiously, eyeing James.
«Em, its bad,» Lucys voice trembled. «Jacks crashed his car. Hes fine, but the cars totalled. Brand new, on finance. Now hes stuck with the debt.»
«Oh God,» Emily paled. «Is he really okay?»
«Just bruised. But hes devastatedtalking about joining the army.»
«Lucy, breathe. Well sort it. Hes safethats what matters.»
«Em could you lend us anything? Just to cover part of it?»
Jamess stare burned into her. She turned away.
«Lets talk tomorrow, alright? I cant think straight now.»
«Of course. Sorry for calling late.»
She hung up, facing James again. He stood arms crossed, expression icy.
«Dont even think about it,» he said flatly. «I mean it.»
«Hes my nephew. I held him as a baby when Lucy was working.»
«I dont care. Enough. Every week its someonedentist bills, roof repairs, tuition. When do we get our turn?»
She walked to the window. Children laughed in the yard below. Once, shed been that carefreebefore her mums health failed, before Lucys divorce left her struggling.
«Remember our first visit to Mums?» she asked softly. «She cooked all dayroast, pies, that potato bake you loved.»
«Emily, dont change the subject.»
«Im not. Im remembering. She was so happy Id found you. Said, He looks at you like youre his whole world. And she gave us that strawberry jam you adored.»
«That was years ago,» he muttered.
«Three years. Is that so long?»
She turned. He avoided her gaze.
«James, what changed?»
«I didnt. I just realised were being used. Your mum, sisterthey know you wont say no.»
«Used?» Her chest tightened. «Mum worked herself sick to raise me. When I had pneumonia at uni, she took unpaid leave to stay by my bed. Is that using me?»
«Emily»
«And Lucy? When her husband left with those two kids, who helped? Me. Mum. We babysat, lent money, kept her going. Is that using?»
He stayed silent. She picked up the statement.
«Five hundred quid,» she said quietly. «Mums heart scanthree hundred private because the NHS wait was too long. Medstwo hundred. Lucys groceriesone fifty when her pay was cut during the babys flu.»
«Stop,» he sighed. «It always comes back to me being the villain. Maybe I just want a normal lifeour life.»
«And dont we have one?»
«No! Every weekend at your mums. Every holiday with your family. Half my salary gone. When do we live for ourselves?»
She sat back down. It was true. But how could she abandon them?
«I cant leave Mum,» she whispered. «Shes alone, ill. No one but me and Lucy.»
«You have a husband. Or had.»
The words stung. James resumed packing.
«Youre leaving?»
«Considering it. Im tired of being an outsider in my own marriage.»
«Cant we compromise?»
He paused. «How? You help them sometimes? See them less? Thats not compromiseits half-measures. The problem remains.»
«Then what do you suggest?»
«Living our own lives. We couldve had children, a home, plans. Instead, we fund everyone elses crises.»
«Everyone else? Theyre my family, James.»
«Not mine. Your family isnt our problem,» he repeated.
She stood by the window, heart aching. She loved himbut couldnt betray those whod always been there. And he couldnt understand.
«Mum asked when were visiting,» she said. «She misses you. Said shes grateful you let me help her.»
James froze briefly, then zipped his suitcase.
«Kind people are rare,» she continued. «Mum always said family means standing together. Maybe shes wrong. Maybe times have changed.»
«They have,» he agreed. «And people.»
He lifted his bag.
«Where are you going?»
«My parents. I need to think. So should youabout what really matters.»
«James, wait»
«Whats left to say? You wont change. Neither will I. Were just different.»
At the door, he hesitated.
«If you ever decide we come firstcall me.»
The engine faded down the street. Emily sat, phone in hand. A text from Lucy glowed: «Em, any news? Jacks panicking. Maybe well visit tomorrow?»
She didnt reply. The kettle whistled. Dusk settled, the flat eerily quiet.
She thought of her mum, waiting. Lucys struggles. Jacks fears. James, who wanted only to live for himself.
The right choice eluded herheart torn between the family shed always known and the man she loved.
Another text arrivedMum this time: «Darling, how are you? I miss you.»
Emily dialled.
«Mum, hi. How are you feeling?»
——
**Lesson:** Love often demands impossible choicesbut true belonging lies not in obligation, nor in selfishness, but in finding those who share your hearts compass.
