“Permission?” I repeated. “Mom, I’m twenty-eight.”
My stepfather avoided my gaze. My half-sister Emily, fresh out of high school, watched quietly from the couch.
My mother slammed her hand on the table.
“You should sell that apartment immediately,” she snapped. “Emily is starting college this fall. The money would cover her tuition.”
I stared at her, stunned.
“You want me to sell my home… to pay for Emily’s college?”
“She’s your sister!” my mother shot back. “Family helps family.”
Something inside me cracked.
“I’ve already helped,” I said evenly. “For years. But this apartment is my savings. I earned it.”
My mother’s voice rose into a scream.
“You’re selfish! You only think about yourself!”
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