Im fed up with carrying you all on my back! No longer a single penny leftgo and feed yourselves however you wish! Emily shouted, slamming the cards down.
She forced the flat door open and instantly heard voices drifting from the kitchen. Her husband Thomas was chatting with his mother, Martha. The woman had arrived that morning and, as usual, made herself at home in the kitchen.
So whats the story with the telly? Thomas asked.
Its ancient, the motherinlaw complained. The pictures terrible, the sound cuts out. It ought to have been replaced ages ago.
Emily slipped off her shoes and stepped into the kitchen. Martha was perched at the table with a steaming mug of tea; Thomas fiddled with his mobile.
Ah, Emilys here, Thomas said cheerfully. We were just talking about Mums TV.
Whats wrong with it? Emily asked, weary.
Its completely broken. We need a new one, Martha replied.
Thomas set his phone aside and turned his gaze to his wife.
You always foot the bill for things like this. Buy Mum a TV. We dont feel like parting with our own money.
Emily froze as she shrugged off her coat. He said it as plainly as if he were ordering a loaf of bread.
Im not in the mood either. And you? Emily asked.
Well, youve got a good job, you bring in decent wages, Thomas explained. And my salary is small.
Emily frowned, studying her husband as if testing his seriousness. He wore a look of absolute certainty that he was right.
Thomas, Im not a bank, she said slowly.
Oh, come on, he waved her off. Its just one TV.
She sat down at the table and replayed the last few months in her mind. Who paid for the flat? Emily. Who bought the groceries? Emily. Who covered the council tax, gas and electricity? Emily again. And the medication for Martha, who constantly complained about her blood pressure and aching joints. Even the loan Martha had taken out for repairsshe stopped paying after three months, and Emily took it over.
Remember something? Thomas asked.
I remember whos been paying for everything in this house for the past two years.
Martha interjected, Emily, youre the lady of the house; the responsibility falls on you. Is it really that hard to buy Thomass mother a TV? Its a family purchase.
For the family? Emily repeated. And where is this family when money must be spent?
Its not like we do nothing, Thomas retorted. I work, and Mum helps around the house.
What help around the house? Emily was taken aback. Martha comes over for tea and to chat about her ailments.
Martha bristled. What do you mean just to chat? I give you advice on how to run a household properly.
Advice about how Im supposed to support everyone?
Who else would? Thomas asked, genuinely puzzled. You have a steady job and a good income.
Emily stared at her husband. He truly believed it normal for his wife to shoulder the entire familys finances.
And what do you do with your money? she pressed.
I save it, Thomas replied. Just in case.
For what case?
You never know. A crisis, a redundancy. You need a safety cushion.
And wheres my safety cushion?
Youve got a secure job; they wont sack you.
Emily said calmly, Perhaps its time you and your mother decided for yourselves what to buy and with what money.
Thomas smirked. Why speak like that? You manage money so well. And we already try not to burden you with extra costs.
Not burden me? Blood rushed to Emilys face. Thomas, do you really think youre not a burden?
Its not like we ask you to buy something every day, Martha defended him. Only when its truly needed.
Is a TV truly needed?
Of course! How can you live without a telly? The news, the shows.
You can watch everything online.
I dont understand the internet, Martha cut in. I need a proper TV.
Emily saw the conversation looping. In their heads both Martha and Thomas genuinely believed Emily was obliged to provide for everyone while they pinched every penny for themselves.
All right, Emily said. Tell me how much the TV you want costs.
Well, you can find a decent one for four hundred pounds, Thomas brightened. A big one, with internet.
Four hundred pounds, Emily repeated.
Yes. Not that much.
Thomas, do you know how much I spend on our family each month?
Thomas hesitated. A lot, probably.
About seven hundred pounds a monthrent, groceries, council tax, your mothers medication, her loan.
Thomas shrugged. Its family. Thats normal.
And how much do you spend on the family?
Sometimes I buy milk. Bread.
Thomas, you spend at most fifty pounds a month on the family, Emily calculated. And not even every month.
But Im saving for a rainy day.
Whose rainy day? Yours?
Ours, of course.
Then why is the money sitting in your personal account and not in a joint one?
Thomas fell silent. Marthas voice softened as well.
Emily, youre saying the wrong things, Martha finally ventured. My son provides for the family.
With what? Emily asked, astonished. Martha, the last time Thomas bought groceries was six months ago, and only because I was ill and asked him to go out.
But he works!
And I work. Yet somehow my salary ends up feeding everyone, while his stays with him.
Thats just how its done, Thomas said uncertainly. The woman runs the household.
Running the household doesnt mean carrying everyone on your back, Emily retorted.
What do you suggest? Martha asked.
I suggest everyone supports themselves.
Hows that supposed to work? the motherinlaw cried. What about family?
What about family? Family means everyone contributes equally, not one person pulling the rest along.
Thomas looked bewildered. Emily, thats a strange way to think. Were husband and wife, we have a joint budget.
Joint? Emily laughed. A joint budget is when both people put money into one pot and spend it together. What we have is me putting money in, and you keeping yours to yourself.
Not for myselfIm saving it.
For yourself. Because when money is needed youll spend it on your own needs, not shared ones.
How do you know?
I just do. Right now your mother needs a TV. You have four hundred pounds set aside. Will you buy it for her?
Thomas hesitated. Well thats my savings.
Exactly. Yours.
Martha tried to turn the tide. Emily, you shouldnt speak to your husband like that. A man should feel like the head of the family.
And the head of the family should support the family, not live off his wife.
Thomas does not live off you! Martha protested.
He does. For the past two years Ive paid for the flat, food, utilities, your medication, and your loan. And Thomas has been saving for his personal needs.
Its only temporary, Thomas tried to justify. Theres a crisis, times are tough.
Weve been in a crisis for three years now. Every month you shift more expenses onto me.
Im not shifting them; Im asking for help.
Help? Emily let out a short laugh. Did you pay the rent at any point in the last six months?
No, but
Did you buy groceries?
Sometimes.
Buying milk once a month does not count as buying groceries.
Well, okay, I didnt. But I work and bring money into the family.
You bring it in and immediately stash it in your personal account.
Im not hiding it; Im saving it for the future.
For your future.
Martha leapt back in. Emily, whats gotten into you? You never used to complain.
I used to think it was temporary, that my husband would soon start pulling his weight with family expenses.
And now?
Now I see Ive been used like a cash cow.
How can you say that! Thomas burst out.
What else am I supposed to call it when one person supports everyone else and they still demand gifts?
What gifts? The TV is something Mum needs!
Thomas, if your mother needs a TV, then she should buy it. Or you can buy it from your savings.
But her pension is small!
And is my salary made of rubberstretchable without limit?
You can afford it.
I can, but I dont want to.
Silence fell. Thomas and his mother exchanged glances.
What do you mean you dont want to? Thomas asked quietly.
It means Im tired of supporting the family alone.
But were a family; were supposed to help each other.
Exactlyeach other, not one person helping everyone else.
Emily rose from the table, realizing they saw her as a moneydispensing machine.
Where are you going? Thomas asked.
To take care of things.
Without another word, Emily pulled out her phone and opened her banking app right there at the table. Her fingers flew over the screenshe blocked the joint card Thomas had access to, then moved to transfers and began shifting all her savings to a new account shed opened a month earlier, just in case.
What are you doing? Thomas asked warily.
Sorting the finances, Emily said curtly.
He tried to peek at her screen, but she angled the phone away. Five minutes later, every pound had been moved to her personal account, to which neither Thomas nor Martha could reach.
Emily, whats happening? Thomas asked, alarmed.
What should have happened long ago is finally happening.
Emily went into the card settings and permanently revoked access for everyone but herself. Thomas stared, bewildered, unable to grasp the magnitude of what shed done.
Martha jumped up from her chair. What have you done? Well be left without money!
Youll be left with the money you earn yourselves, Emily replied calmly.
What do you mean yourselves? What about family? What about the joint budget? the motherinlaw screamed.
We never had a joint budget. There was only my budget, which everyone fed off.
Youve lost your mind! Martha shouted. Were a family!
In a steady voice, Emily said, From today onward we live separately. I am not obliged to pay for your whims.
What whims? Thomas objected. These are necessary expenses!
A fourhundredpound TV is a necessary expense?
For Mum, yes!
Then let Mum buy it with her pension. Or you buy it with your savings.
Martha rushed to her son. Why are you silent? Put her in her place! Shes your wife!
Thomas muttered something unintelligible, avoiding Emilys eyes. He knew she was right but would not admit it.
Thomas, Emily said quietly, do you really think I should support your whole family?
Well were husband and wife.
Husband and wife means partnership, not a situation where one person funds everyone else.
But my salary is smaller!
Your salary is smaller, but your savings are largerbecause you dont spend them on anything but yourself.
Thomas fell silent again. Seeing her son unwilling to press his wife, Martha decided to act herself.
Emily, return the money immediately! Im running out of medicine!
Buy it with your own money.
My pension is small!
Ask your son. He has savings.
Thomas, give me money for my medicine! Martha demanded.
Thomas faltered. Mum, Im saving that for the family.
I am the family! she shouted.
But those are my savings.
You see? Emily noted. When it comes to spending, everyones money suddenly becomes personal.
Realising the seriousness, Martha changed tactics. Emily, lets speak calmly. Youre a kind woman; youve always helped.
I helped until I realised I was being used.
Youre not being usedyoure appreciated!
Appreciated for what? For paying all the bills?
For supporting the family.
Im not supporting a family. Im supporting two adults who can work and earn their own money.
The next morning Emily went to the bank and opened a separate account in her own name. She printed statements for the past two years showing that every pound had been spent on Thomas and his mothergroceries, rent, council tax, medicines, the loan. It was all on Emily.
When she returned home, she hauled out a large suitcase and began packing Thomass belongingsshirts, trousers, socksfolding everything neatly.
What are you doing? Thomas asked, returning from work.
Packing your things.
Why?
Because you no longer live here.
What do you mean, I dont? This is my flat too!
The flat is in my name. I decide who lives in it.
But were husband and wife!
For now, yes. But not for long.
Emily rolled the suitcase into the hallway and held out her hand. The keys.
What keys?
The keys to the flat. All sets.
Emily, are you serious?
Absolutely.
Reluctantly, Thomas handed over the keys. Emily checkedmain set and spare.
Does your mother have keys?
Yes, she drops by now and then.
Call her. Have her return them.
Why?
Because Martha no longer has the right to enter my flat.
An hour later Martha arrived, understanding the gravity when she saw the suitcase in the hallway.
What does this mean? she asked sternly.
It means your son is moving out.
Moving out where? This is his home!
This is my home. I no longer want to support freeloaders.
How dare you! Martha exploded.
I dare. Hand over the keys.
What keys?
To the flat. I know you have a duplicate.
I wont give them back!
Then Ill call the police.
Martha raised a proper ruckus, shouting that Emily was destroying the family, that you dont treat relatives like this, that she had always considered her daughterinlaw a good girl.
The good girl is gone, Emily said calmly and dialled the police.
Hello, we need assistance. Former relatives refuse to return the keys to my flat and to leave the premises.
Half an hour later two officers arrived, clarified the situation and checked the title deeds.
Maam, they said to Martha, return the keys and leave the flat.
But my son lives here!
Your son is not the owner and has no right to dispose of the property.
With witnesses present, Martha reluctantly took the keys from her purse and tossed them onto the floor.
Youll regret this! she shouted as she left. Youll end up alone!
Ill be alone, but with my own money, Emily replied.
Thomas silently lifted the suitcase and followed his mother out. At the door he turned back.
Emily, maybe youll reconsider?
Theres nothing left to reconsider.
A week later Emily filed for divorce. There was almost no joint property to splitthe flat had belonged to Emily from the start, and the car had been bought with her own money. Nothing remained to divide.
Thomas tried calling, asked to meet and talk. He promised everything would change, that he would cover all expenses himself.
Too late, Emily answered. Trust doesnt return.
But I love you!
Do you love meor my wallet?
You, of course!
Then why did you live off me for three years without a shred of remorse?
Thomas had no answer.
The decree came quicklyThomas didnt contest, seeing how pointless it was. The court declared the marriage dissolved.
For another month Martha kept calling Emilycrying, then threatening, then begging for money for medicines. Emily listened in silence and hung up.
My blood pressure is up because of you! her motherinlaw complained.
Ask your son to treat you; he has savings.
He says hes sorry to spend the money!
Wonderful. Now you understand how I felt for three years.
Six months later Emily ran into Thomas at the supermarket. He looked tired; his clothes had lost their former crispness.
Hello, he greeted awkwardly.
Hello.
How are you?
Fine. And you?
Fine Im living with Mum for now.
I see.
You know, I realised I was wrong. I really did dump too much on you.
You realised?
Yes. Now I pay for all of Mums expenses myself, and I see how hard it is.
But you have savings.
I had. I spent them on Mums medicine and repairs to her flat.
And? Does it hurt to spend them?
Thomas paused, then answered honestly, It does. A lot.
Now imagine doing that for three years straight.
It hurts. I understand.
Now imagine doing that for three years straight.
I get it. Forgive me.
I already have. But that changes nothing.
What if I make it right? Become a different man?
Thomas, you only became different when you were left without my money. That isnt changethats being forced by circumstances.
But Ive realised my mistake!
You realised it only when you had to pay yourself. If I had kept supporting everyone, youd never have realised anything.
Thomas nodded, knowing Emily was right.
I must be off, Emily said, heading for the checkout.
At home she brewed teaShe sipped her tea, feeling the quiet certainty of a life finally hers.
