I never imagined the day would come when my parents, my brother, and I would be arguing over the family property, with voices rising, everyone trying to make their point. Im not a child anymoreat twenty, Im eager for my independence. But my brother? Hes only fourteen. What does he need with a flat? He hasnt even finished school yet; hes still so green.
My parents see him as just a kid as well, which, frankly, he is. Im the one at university, juggling a part-time job, and living in the flat that used to belong to my father, passed down from his parents. He let me move in when I said I wanted my own space and was thinking about renting elsewhere.
It felt like a wonderful gesture at the time, and I really started to make the place my own, slowly fixing it up, hoping that one day itd be mine for good. But everything changed after a blazing row with my dad. I cant quite remember what started it, but I know I hurt him when I insisted that I could take care of myself.
After that, mum and dad called us together for a family meeting. They told me, well, if I was so independent, I ought to move out and theyd let the flat to someone elseafter all, it wasnt just mine, and my brother would need it someday as well.
Its pointless to ask what the actual issue is; in my mind, I could take this flat, my brother could get the one where my parents live, and all would be sorted. But notheyre set on the idea that we should sell both flats, split the money, and each buy our own place.
I cant stand the idea. Why go through all that hasslepaying estate agents, hefty stamp duty, endless paperworkwhen there are already two perfectly good flats for us to live in?
But what hurts even more is realising my parents are prepared to throw me out just for wanting to stand on my own two feet.
Maybe they’ll see sense and well make amends someday. For now, though, Im not ready to make the first move. I cant help but think their decision is senseless, and my brother, being so young, just goes along with whatever they say. It feels like theyre driving a wedge between uslike someday, all this bickering is going to leave us with nothing but memories of property sold off, with the proceeds going straight back to the parents.
