My parents left everything to my brother, so I stopped paying their bills. A month later, my mother texted me.

“And you? Do you have an explanation?” “You’ve had years to grow up. Take charge of your life.”

I was just starting to do something. But you weren’t.” I stopped and, looking him straight in the eye, said the last thing I had to say:

“Because you knew they’d always take care of you.” I narrowed my eyes. “And when they left, you thought I’d do it.” “What can I say?” Eric finally exclaimed.

“I didn’t ask.” I nodded slowly. “Of course you didn’t ask.”

“You just took advantage.” He opened his mouth, then closed it again. I said nothing.

His mother made one last attempt to sway him: “Jacob, we’re family. And in family, we take care of each other.”

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