My parents separated when I was fourteen years old. I was a big lad then, and I understood quite well that adults part ways for their own reasons and later find their way back with someone else, or sometimes swap partners altogether. So, it didnt surprise me when, within a year, my father had a new woman in his life.
She became my stepmother and brought her own daughter into our home. Emily was a gentle and quietly spoken girl, and sharing a room with her was no bother. At nineteen, I moved into university halls, well away from the family. Around that time, I noticed that my father and stepmother were more concerned about Emily than me, since she was two years younger and found it harder to adjust to our new family.
In my third year, I rented a flat with my girlfriend, with whom I was in a serious relationship. Out of the blue, my parents rang up and asked if Emily could stay with me temporarily, since she was studying at the same university but refused to live in the student halls. My parents never did anything like that for me, assuming that as a lad, Id have no trouble fitting in with other blokes, yet when it came to Emily, they said, Well, shes a girl shell be uncomfortable sharing with strangers!
There wasnt much I could do, so I took Emily in. It was obvious my stepmother would support her financially, but with the amount she spent every month, she could have easily rented a separate flat for Emily. She ordered fancy clothes, treated herself to new gadgets, everything was for her, and I got nothing. It got to the point where, when Emily broke the washing machine in our rented flat, my dad replied that she was still young and that my girlfriend and I would have to pay for the repairs ourselves.
Thankfully, after finishing university, my girlfriend and I got married and moved in with her parents for a while, which meant Emily could finally go her own way. We were starting our life together, saving up to buy a house, and my wifes parents did everything they could to help us, while my own parents, again, refused to give us a single penny. Now were twenty-six, Emily is twenty-four, just beginning to earn her living, and I discover my father and stepmother took out a loan and bought her a two-bedroom flat. She didnt have a fiancé or children, whereas my wife was expecting.
I was deeply hurt and called my father, asking why I didnt receive such a gift. He simply told me I had in-laws, so let them buy a home for us. Ive never encountered such spiteful behaviour. It honestly feels as though I no longer have parents ever since my fathers divorce, Ive felt like an orphan…
