“That’s nothing compared to what you owe this family,” he said. “You owe me for being your older brother. For making things easier for you.” Family
I stared at him. Mark had dropped out of college, drowned himself in debt, rushed into marriage, fallen apart after divorce, and spent years turning his mistakes into someone else’s emergencies.
“What exactly did you make easier?” I asked quietly.
My mother slammed her hand on the table so hard the glasses jumped.
“Do not speak to your brother that way.”
I turned to her, still expecting reason.
“Mom, you know I’ve been helping Mark. You know I’ve sent money every month for years.”
“Helping?” she snapped. “You think money makes you noble? You think it erases your selfishness?”
The room seemed to tilt.
“Selfishness?” I repeated. “I work seventy hours a week. I live in a one-bedroom apartment. I drive a car older than Tyler. I do all that so I can help Mark.”
“You ungrateful little brat,” she said. “After everything I did for you? I raised you, fed you, clothed you, and now you sit here acting like some kind of hero?”
