For the first time in years, I felt no guilt. Only relief.
But it didn’t end there. A day later, my mother called. Her tone was sharp from the start. “Abigail, I just spoke with Claire. She’s upset. She says you refused to help her when she really needed you. Can’t you just let this go and fix things for her?”
I closed my eyes, gripping the phone. “Mom, I already showed up for her. I worked for hours on her wedding day and charged almost nothing. I did everything she asked, and she still refused to pay me. That’s not a mistake. That’s a choice.”
She sighed. “Still, she’s your sister. Family should be there for each other.”
This time, my voice was steady. “I’ve always been the one to keep peace. I’ve taken the blame, stayed quiet, and sacrificed more than I should have. But not anymore. Claire broke her word, and I won’t fix her problems again.”
There was silence on the line. I didn’t waver. I didn’t bend.
When I hung up, I realized something had shifted. I was done mixing business with family. And I would never make that mistake again.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
