They Chose the Nanny, I Chose to Stop Funding Them Chapter 13
Mom and Dad thought of spending money on medical treatment, but they realized in horror that their retirement savings and pension were almost depleted.
Julia had stolen quite a sum from them, and what remained was barely enough to cover their food, let alone medicine and other necessities.
They lay on their cold bed, sick and miserable, but no one walted on them or brought them food or medicine one offered them any comfort, and they couldn’t even get themselves a hot meal anymore.
The house was empty and lifeless, filled only with the sound of their coughing and sighing.
They glanced around in the empty house, looking at my childhood photos on the wall.
They recalled the monthly allowance I used to give them on time, how I’d hired someone to wait on them hand and foot, and how I always bought them gifts and presents every time I came home. I’d talk to them, chat with them, and eat with them, but now, there was nothing left except regrets.
Mom lay in bed, sobbing and pounding her chest in despair.
“How could we have been so foolish? We neglected our own daughter and chose to spoil a scammer instead… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry, Jen…”
Dad’s eyes were red-rimmed as well. He sighed incessantly and muttered, “We were wrong. We’ve let Jen down. If only we never pressured her, or hurt her, we’d never end up like this…”
They tried to call me to apologize and ask me to come back to visit them, but they realized that I’d blocked both of them a long time ago and they couldn’t even get a hold of me anymore. They thought of coming to find me, but they were afraid that I’d reject them and berate them again.
So, they could only stay in the empty house by themselves, tormented by loneliness and regret.
I learned about my parents’ condition from Sonya a month later.
When she called me that day, her voice was filled with worry and helplessness as she told me everything about my parents getting swindled by Julia, being ridiculed by the neighbors, and having no one to care for them when they were sick.
Sonya kept trying to talk sense into me.
“Genevieve, I know that you’re angry, and I know that both Uncle Randy and Aunt Marie have wronged you, but they’re still your parents. They gave you life and raised you. But now they’re suffering so much, so why don’t you just go back and visit them once in a while?
“They regret everything now. They won’t stop calling your name at home. They know what they did was wrong”
I went silent for a very long time with the phone in my hands.
A long time had passed since then. All of the past anger and grievances I’d felt back then have long since settled and passed, leaving only a faint sense of ease.
They were still my parents after all, and I couldn’t ignore the debt of gratitude I owed them. However, I’d been so repeatedly hurt by them that I knew the bond between us could never truly be repaired.
I said calmly into the phone, “I understand, Sonya. I won’t abandon them.”
After hanging up, I transferred some money to my parents, enough for their medical treatment and living expenses for the month
also sent them a message, saying, “I will continue paying for support, but I won’t come back home mymore [ hope you will take care of yourselves from now on.”
My parents called me again after seeing my message, repeatedly apologizing and admitting their fault to me, but they didn’t have the right to ask for my forgiveness anymore.
Life continued as usual. I finally let go of the ties to my family that were holding me back and poured all of my energy into my work and life instead.
I eventually saved enough for a down payment on an apartment and finally bought a place of my own. It wasn’t big, with just two bedrooms and a modest living room, which I renovated and decorated in my preferred minimalist style.
I also made friends who shared my interests, and on weekends, we went hiking together to breathe in some fresh air and appreciate the beauty of nature.
