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CARE

    Mahi mona
    @Mahi-mona
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    1 Likes | 3 Views | Jan 8, 2025

    The Burden of Care: A Son’s Responsibility Dad’s health began to decline—persistent coughing, exhaustion, and shortness of breath. He dismissed it as a lingering cold, but I knew something was wrong. Eventually, he was hospitalized with a severe lung infection. I dropped everything to be by his side, only to find him alone in his hospital room. Karen and Rachel? Out getting manicures. When I confronted Karen, she acted surprised to see me and brushed off my questions with excuses about "errands." Her indifference was infuriating. I took charge, speaking with doctors, arranging care, and staying by Dad’s side. Karen would occasionally stop by the hospital but seemed more interested in her phone than in supporting him. Rachel avoided the hospital altogether, claiming it was “too hard” to see Dad in that state. When Dad was discharged, I resigned from my job to care for him full-time. It was exhausting, but I couldn’t trust Karen or Rachel to take care of him. Karen was unreliable, often prioritizing her spa appointments over his medication schedule. Rachel, meanwhile, all but disappeared, even going on vacation during one of Dad’s worst weeks. Inheritance, Betrayal, and the Fallouts As Dad’s health declined, Karen tried to step up, but it was too little, too late. Rachel only visited when coerced and never stayed long. When Dad passed away, I was by his side, along with a nurse and a few friends. Karen was at a wellness retreat, and Rachel was out with friends. Despite my calls, neither of them showed up in time. The funeral came and went in a blur of exhaustion and heartbreak. Yet, in the aftermath of Dad’s passing, something within me hardened. I resolved never to let Karen’s neglect or Rachel’s entitlement control my life again. After months of avoiding Karen and Rachel, it was clear that they had not taken the warning signs seriously. Karen, despite everything, spoke to her friends about how unexpected Dad's death was, while Rachel made an exaggerated show of crying during the funeral. But when it counted, neither had seemed to care about him. Weeks after the funeral, Dad's attorney called, and to my surprise, it wasn’t just to go over the will. I expected maybe a small token or keepsake, but Dad had left me everything—the house, his savings, and all his assets. Karen and Rachel received nothing. Given how little they had cared for him in his last months, I could only imagine the anguish Dad must have gone through. In the will, he expressed his appreciation for everything I had done for him by leaving me everything. The fallout was immediate when Karen and Rachel found out. They were furious. Rachel yelled at the attorney, saying she could never accept this treatment from her father. Karen immediately called, demanding I share some of the inheritance with them. I refused, for my own sanity, and disconnected from them both. Their sense of entitlement was exhausting. The Return of Karen: Manipulation and Guilt Trips Eventually, I met my spouse after relocating to the city for work, focusing on building a new life. We moved abroad for his job, got married, and had a child. Honestly, I didn’t feel the need to update Karen or Rachel about it; I was moving forward with my life. But out of the blue, after a few years, Karen appeared at my door. She seemed worn out and desperate, apologizing for how she’d treated me and expressing regret. She said she wanted to be part of my daughter’s life and that she had been living with remorse ever since Dad passed. I didn’t fully trust her, but decided to give her a chance. For a while, Karen would send gifts and call to check on my daughter, and things seemed normal—until the hints started. Breaking Free: Standing Firm Against Manipulation It began with subtle comments about how hard life had been for her since I inherited everything