Chapter 13: The Man Who Had Nothing Left
I heard about Daniel and Melissa from time to time through family.
Daniel had been working construction jobs when he could find them, but the work was inconsistent. Melissa had taken a part-time job at a retail store. They were barely making ends meet and had moved into a small, run-down apartment on the other side of town.
Their relationship was strained. According to my sister Linda, they argued constantly about money and blame. Melissa blamed Daniel for pushing things too far with me. Daniel blamed everyone but himself.
One afternoon, Linda called me again.
“Daniel asked me to ask you something,” she said carefully.
I already knew what was coming.
“He wants to know if you would consider helping them with rent. Just for a few months. Until they get back on their feet.”
I was quiet for a long moment.
Then I said, “Linda, I want you to listen to me very carefully. I will not be giving Daniel or Melissa any more money. Not now. Not ever. They made their choices. They can live with the consequences.”
Linda sighed.
“I told him you would probably say that. But I promised I would ask.”
After we hung up, I sat on my porch and thought about my son.
I still loved him. That would never completely go away. But love did not mean allowing myself to be used. Love did not mean letting someone treat me with disrespect and then expecting me to keep giving.
Daniel had made his bed.
May you like
Now he had to lie in it.
And I had finally made peace with that.
