Love Lost, Life Reclaimed

y noise. "If it wasn't for my sacrifice

hat she' d given my colle

s of scholarships, working dead-end jobs, meticulousl

," my aunt, her sister, added with a sneer. "Lo

tance letter in hand. "There's a family emergency," my mother had said. "Kyl

my entire life' s savings for my own

rty, designer suit, wealthy wife,

just paying the bills for a small apartment I shared with a

e," I heard my mother tell a neig

The anniversary cake I bought with my overtime pay, a s

ed to th

ieked, rushing over, not to me, but to the mes

a mask of disappointment. "

judging me. My aun

on't need this cheap junk," my father said, not even looking a

uture, something inside me finally broke. The buried resentmen

going to t