Half my childhood drifted by with my twin sister in foster homes, until our auntmy mums younger sisterturned eighteen and took us in. She, and later her husband, became like real parents to us; my hearts full of love and gratitude for all theyve done.
On our eighteenth birthday, they brought us to a three-bedroom flat right in the heart of Manchester, once owned by our parents. Theyd been letting it out for years, but now, they suggested we sell it and split the proceeds so we could each have a place of our own. We both liked that idea. The flat fetched a good price, so I ended up with enough for a lovely two-bedroom place of my own, though I needed a mortgage, which I managed to pay off within a year. After that, I threw myself into redecorating and buying new furniture, piece by piece.
Mum and Dad were chuffed I was getting settled, but they worried about my sister. They kept trying to gently nudge her to sort herself out. But she wasnt in any rush; instead, she spent freelytop-of-the-range gadgets, posh dinners, weekends in Paris and Rome.
Eventually, Auntie had a proper go at her, saying shed have no choice but to boot her out if she didnt buy somewhere before she frittered it all away. In the end, my sister couldnt afford a place and started renting a flat instead.
By this time, she had a boyfriend. They moved in together to save a bit, and I was honestly relieved she seemed to be finding her footing at last. Meanwhile, I landed a promotion at work, helped Mum and Dad out when I could, went to Brighton for a seaside holiday, and met a great man I was thinking of moving in with.
Not long after we started seeing each other, the whole family gathered at mine. My sister announced she was pregnant, beaming away, then launched into a winding tale about how hard it would be to afford the rent nowadays, what with prices soaring and wages standing still I didnt see where she was going until she turned to me and said:
Why dont you give me your flat? Ill be due in a few months, and youre living alone anyway. Why cant you move in with Auntie for a bit? Shes got a spare roommakes no odds to you, does it?
I told her, calmly but firmly, No. She burst into tears, took her fella, and stormed out.
She rang me several times afterwards, hoping Id change my mind, but I was determined. Id poured sweat and hours into making that flat a home, putting away every penny to pay for it, and now I was meant to just hand it all over?
Shed made her own choices and never planned for the futurewhy should I be the one to set everything right now?
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