An Unexpected Gift
During all of this, the memory of telling my parents “you’re on your own” haunted me. Even though they never brought it up, I carried it heavily.
“You’ve been looking worn down,” he said. “Everything okay at home?”
I told him the truth.
He listened quietly—and then offered me a promotion I hadn’t expected. Better pay. Flexible hours.
It felt like a miracle.
With the extra income, I started sending a little money to my parents again, even though they kept insisting we didn’t need to.
Then one afternoon, while clearing the garage with my dad, I found an old envelope labeled: “For Emergencies – Not for Us.”
Inside was nearly $3,000.
My dad explained, “Your mom and I saved most of what you used to give us. We wanted to have something put away for when you needed it.”
He added with a laugh, “We used a little when you got married. Remember the caterer discount?”
I nodded.
“It was your own money,” he confessed.
Continue reading…
