Then my cousin posted a picture from my promotion celebration at work.
The caption mentioned my salary range.
By the next morning, Mom had texted:
We need to talk about what you owe us.
Dad tapped the calculator again.
“We raised you. That investment needs to return something.”
A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.
Mom’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t be disrespectful.”
“You want half my income every month?”
“We need stability,” Dad said.
“You need jobs.”
Silence filled the room.
Mom stood.
“After everything we sacrificed?”
