Derek burst out laughing. A loud, belly-deep laugh that made his shoulders shake. Lauren covered her mouth, but her eyes crinkled with amusement. Eric slapped the table and howled. Even Dad let out a low chuckle.
Mom sighed. “Rachel, don’t make a scene. He’s just a child.”
I stared at the ruined food on my plate. The saliva slowly sinking into the mashed potatoes I had been looking forward to.
I looked at Derek. “Why would you tell your son something like that?”
Derek shrugged, still grinning. “Come on, Rachel. You walk around here like you’re better than everybody. Paying a few bills doesn’t make you the boss.”
Lauren nodded. “You act like we should be grateful every second. It’s exhausting.”
Eric leaned forward. “Honestly, sis, you do have that ‘I’m the savior’ vibe. Lighten up.”
I felt something inside me crack.
These were the same people whose lights I kept on. The same people whose mortgage I had covered for thirty-six straight months — over $86,000 of my hard-earned money. The same people who never once said “thank you” without a complaint attached.
I pushed my chair back slowly.
“I’m done,” I said quietly.
Mom’s face hardened. “Sit down, Rachel. You’re being dramatic again.”
I placed my napkin beside the disgusting plate. “No. I’m not.”
As I walked down the hallway toward the front door, their laughter followed me like knives.
No one called my name. No one apologized.
