They Called Me Selfish for Asking Him to Feed His Own Son Chapter 06
Her voice comes through, frantic. “Clara, what is going on? Derek went to your office-you weren’t there. Where are you? Everything’s falling apart here. My insulin is gone. I haven’t taken a shot all day. Go buy it
right now and fix whatever mess you’ve left behind!”
She sounds like she’s scolding an employee who walked off the job.
I hold the phone. Don’t jump to fix things like I always do.
I say, very calmly, “From now on, talk to your son.”
She freezes. “What do you mean?”
Then Derek snatches the phone. His voice is sharp, angry. “Clara, where are you?”
“Another city. The company’s six-month immersive bootcamp.”
“Six months? Are you kidding me? What’s going to happen to the family?”
“That’s your problem, not mine.”
“What do you mean not yours? You’re being so selfish! You just leave-my parents’ meds, Leo’s tuition-you
want this whole family to fall apart?”
Selfish.
There’s that word again.
When he donated every dollar and left nothing for his family-he wasn’t selfish.
When he let me carry every bill, working till two in the morning-he wasn’t selfish.
When I asked for a little help and got screamed at by everyone-I was selfish.
Now I’m doing exactly what he does. Managing my own money, taking care of myself-and they can’t handle
it?
I laugh into the phone. “Derek, remember what you told me when you linked your paycheck to that charity?
‘It’s my money. I earned it. I’ll donate if I want. None of your business. Well, same goes for me. My money,
my choice. And you said I was embarrassing, obsessed with cash. I’m gone now. No more embarrassment. You should be happy.”
His voice drops colder. “You’re really going to be this petty? Storming off, holding the whole family hostage
over one fight?”
“It’s not a tantrum. I just finally woke up.”
“I don’t have time for your sarcasm. Get home and fix this.”
“The bootcamp is fully isolated. No calls, no visits for six months. I’m not coming back. You’re in charge of
everything.”
“Me?” His voice cracks with rage. “Are you insane? I donated all my money. What am I supposed to use?”
“That’s your problem.”
I throw his own words back at him.
The line goes heavy with his breathing.
