З життя
You Have No Heart! Can’t You See How Much Daniel Is Struggling? He’s Your Own Brother—You Could’ve Helped Him. Stop Being So Selfish!
“Youve got no heart at all. Cant you see how much Daniels struggling? Hes your brotheryou couldve helped him out. Its always about you, isnt it?”
Thats what my mum said to me recently when she called and told me to come collect all my things from her flat.
“We can hardly walk around here with all your stuff taking up space,” she said.
This all kicked off after I refused to give my brother Daniel money for a deposit on a house. And yeah, I mean *give*, not lendbecause lets be honest, hed never pay me back.
When I said no, Daniel stormed out of my place in a right strop. He genuinely thought Id just hand over my savings because hes got a wife and kids, and I dont.
I need to vent because this whole thing feels so unfair, especially with Christmas just around the corner.
When I moved to Manchester for uni, I started working part-time straight away. First, I lived in halls, then I rented a flat with a mate. I didnt want to rely on my parents, so I worked my socks offnot just to pay my own way but to help Mum out too.
She never outright asked for money, but shed always drop hintsasking me to bring back clothes, shoes, bits for the house. And whenever I visited, Id turn up with bags full of groceries.
Mum lives in a three-bed flat with Daniel. Our dad passed away three years ago.
Daniel never cared much for school. After his GCSEs, he went to work in Scotland for a bit, but all he managed to buy was a banger of a car. When he came back, he started driving a cab.
Then he got married and moved his wife, Sophie, into Mums place. Money was always tightDaniel lived hand to mouth. The second they got paid, he and Sophie would blow it all straight away.
Both Mum and Sophies parents were always bailing them out. Daniel knew someone would always step in, so he never bothered trying to earn more or sort his finances.
Now, Daniel and Sophie have two kids, with another on the way. Theyve decided Mums flat is too cramped and started looking to buy their own place.
Meanwhile, I rent a flat with my boyfriend, James. Were planning to get married but waiting for the right time. Moneys steadyJames is a software engineer, and I run a few online shops. We dont splash out on rubbish; were saving every penny for our own place so we can start married life properly.
Mum knew about our plans, but she still put the idea in Daniels head that he could ask me for help.
“They want to buy a house, but they havent got the deposit,” she told me.
When Daniel came over and flat-out demanded money, I said no. He was fuming. He reckoned I *owed* him just because hes got a family and I dont.
Later, Mum rang me and said, “Youve got no heart at all. Cant you see how much Daniels struggling? Hes your brotheryou couldve helped him. Its always about you.”
Then she added, “Come get your things from the flat. We cant move for all your clutter. And dont bother coming for Christmas. Daniels livid with you, and Im not exactly thrilled either.”
I didnt argue. Ill pick up my stuff and make space for it in my rented flat. And when James and I buy our own place, Ill move it there.
I *couldve* lent Daniel the money, but I know Id never see it again. And he didnt even ask for a loanhe just expected me to hand over my savings.
Just because hes got kids
What would you do in my shoes?
