So whats happening with the flat? You promised! Youre ruining my life!
Honestly, I was absolutely over the moon when I found out our son, Oliver, was getting married. Before the wedding, my husband and I secretly told him we wanted to surprise him with a flat as a wedding gift. Oliver was so chuffed when he heard our plans. All his mates found out that very same dayhe couldnt keep it to himself. As we were busy with the wedding preparations, everything suddenly went sideways.
Our daughter, Emily, fell terribly ill at work and had to be rushed to hospital. My husband and I dropped everything and dashed there as quickly as we could. After lots of tests, they discovered she had a tumour and needed surgery right away. Of course, we needed quite a bit of money urgently. In a way, thank goodness it was caught in time.
Buying a flat for Oliver, given what happened, just wasnt an option any more. We did our best to put together the money needed for Emilys treatment. Thankfully, our friends and family rallied round us. Nobody turned awaythey just jumped in and helped wherever they could. Some gave us money and told us not to worry about ever paying them back. Eventually, we scraped together enough to cover the operation.
But what Oliver said next absolutely floored us.
What about my flat? You promised me! My whole lifes ruined because of this.
After hearing Oliver say that, I honestly felt faint. How could he be so selfish? How could he say that, especially about his own sister? They grew up together, for goodness sake. How could he even begin to compare his wedding present and his sister fighting for her life? I was gobsmacked. But Oliver didnt stop there.
Why does she get everything and I get nothing?
That was it for meI lost my temper and started shouting at him. I told him I didnt want to see him anymore. He packed his bags and went to stay with his fiancée. We didnt speak a word to each other for two weeks.
Meanwhile, Emily had her surgery. Thankfully, it all went well. A few weeks later, we brought her home. I didn’t say a single thing to her about what Oliver had saidit would only have upset her, and there was absolutely no need. And during all that time, Oliver never once rang usnot even to ask how his sister was. I suppose, to him, that flat meant more than his own family.
