My Last Fifty Thousand

I looked at the three of them.

One face wore a mask of affection, but I could see the calculation flickering in the eyes. Another radiated authority, never even bothering to hide her heart of black ice. The last seemed guileless, but her eyes shone with a quiet cruelty.

They didn't shout or raise a hand. Instead, their gentle and honeyed words all told me one thing. They wanted me to disappear forever.

A bitter laugh escaped me. Whatever fragile ember I had left inside was finally snuffed out.

"I'm tired." I spoke quietly. "I want to go lie down."

"See? That's more like it," my dad said with a sigh of relief, his smile returning to his face. "That's my boy. You've always been the reasonable sort. Go ahead, get some rest. You'll feel better afterward."

I returned to the room that once belonged to me, now overflowing with Natalia's belongings. I was now a stranger in my own room. Everything in here was so alien that I could barely remember the time I'd spent here.

Home had become a rare destination ever since I moved to the city to work. Now, the room felt cold despite its material wealth. I felt as if I were trespassing in a life that was no longer mine.

…

That night, pain ripped through me. Cold sweat soaked my skin as I curled on the narrow bed, drifting between fevered dreams and uneasy wakefulness.

What I failed to see was that their need for me had not yet run dry.

...

Early the next morning, my dad came in carrying a steaming breakfast tray with oatmeal, toast, and eggs.

"Noah, you're awake? Here, I made this myself for you. Eat it while it's hot."

He settled beside my bed with a gentle smile as he watched me eat before carefully steering the conversation to his true purpose.

"There will be many guests at the house today, and it might get loud and chaotic. I worry the noise could disturb your sleep, so how about you stay at a nearby hotel tonight? I'll take care of the costs."

Then, he slipped 200 dollars into my hand.

I stared before understanding dawned on me. To him, my illness was a shadow that threatened to taint the house with misfortune.

As if that weren't enough, he continued to pull a folded sheet of paper from his pocket, avoiding my eyes all the while.

"There's one last thing. I need a favor."

He hesitated before smiling and saying, "Your sister's engagement ring still needs a bit more… pizzazz. I know you have funds in your retirement account. Could you... withdraw some and lend it to her? Once I get the money, I'll return double the amount. I promise."

I stared at him.

I never imagined he would reach for even the last of my retirement savings.

When I didn't reply, his eyes turned red as he began wiping away his crocodile tears.

"Noah, I understand this isn't fair to you, but I'm out of options. Do you want me to beg?"

As he spoke, he started to lower himself toward the floor.

This act of his was his secret weapon, and it never failed for the entire 20 years I've spent growing in his care.

The doormat inside me rolled over whenever he played this card, and I would hand over whatever he asked for.

I grasped his arm firmly, my fingers freezing. "Dad, don't," I urged.

I stared at him, turning into a soulless husk. "I'll give it to you. All of it."

"I knew it. I could always count on you to be filial." The tears quickly faded. His face brightened with relief as he handed me his phone. "Come on, it'll only take a second."

I mechanically tapped through the transfer, sending the final 50,000 from my retirement account into his hands.

It was my funeral money, the sum I had set aside to lay myself to rest.

"Alright, you should prepare and go to the hotel. We don't want you to delay anything today."

As soon as the money landed in his account, his politeness stayed. However, a flicker of impatience broke through his smile.

He even graciously picked up my coat and saw me to the door.

"Take it easy on your way over. Just grab a cab if you're feeling unwell. And stay at the hotel just in case the party goes on for too long. Don't bother returning."

They Celebrated While I Died

The door clicked shut behind me, sealing away the house's warmth and the laughter that waited just beyond the door.

I stood shivering in the biting wind, clutching the 200 dollars as if it could shield me from the cold.

This was the price of my dignity, paid for by my parents with the currency of my life.

...

That day marked a milestone for the Callahan family: Natalia's engagement party, the house overflowing with guests and laughter.

Meanwhile, I never made it to the hotel. I needed one last glimpse of the family I had poured my life into. I wanted to witness their happiness without me.

My body grew heavier with every passing minute, my legs turning to concrete beneath me.

A stabbing pain in my lower back made it nearly impossible to stand straight. Every step was agony. I felt like a mermaid in those Grimm Tales, feeling as if I was walking barefoot on broken glass.

Natalia's gleaming car caught my eye just as I passed a luxury hotel downtown.

I glimpsed the ballroom aglow through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the atmosphere was lively and interspersed with clinking glasses and radiant smiles.

Natalia positively shimmered in her elegant gown, the diamond ring she'd bought with my retirement savings sparkling on her finger as she floated from table to table, toasting gaily.

My parents were dressed to perfection, their smiles stretched so wide they looked ready to burst with joy. Their happiness was pure, untouched by guilt or even a trace of worry toward me.

Suddenly, a relative asked, "Hey, where's Noah? Why isn't he here?"

I saw my father wave his hand through the window as a helpless, indulgent smile appeared on his face. "That boy? He's a total workaholic.

"His company summoned him at the last minute, insisting he return immediately. I told him not to go, but he insisted. Apparently, he wanted to earn more money someday to help his sister upgrade to a larger house.

"That's simply his nature—always prioritizing family and caring for his sister. Nothing can stop him."

"Wow, that's a good son right there. Successful and devoted," the relatives said, all nodding and singing my praises.

I lingered outside, a single pane of glass dividing me from their world. My breathing was labored as I continued listening to my father sing my praises behind my back.

The irony of it all nearly made me laugh.

I was still their perfect son as I withered away in the biting cold. The one who loved too much, who cherished his sister, who tried so hard to matter.

They had emptied me out, and now my name was just another trophy for their pride.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a voice message from my father.

My hand shook as I struggled to play the message. His voice was hurried and low, nearly drowned out by the roar of music and laughter behind him.

"Noah, stay out of sight. I almost saw you by the window, and the in-laws nearly spotted you. You look incredibly pale. Keep that negative energy away from the family today. Stay out of trouble. I'll send you some money so you can buy something to eat."

A second later, a 200 dollars transfer popped up on my screen.

I stared at the screen, bitter laughter tearing out of my throat.

The sudden burst of amusement came on so strongly that it was as if the sound had clawed its way out of my chest. I felt wetness on my cheeks. It seemed that my tears had stained my face during my outburst.

I didn't care who saw me. I just stood there, laughing and laughing.

Then, I tasted that metallic sweetness rising in my throat once more.

Blood poured from my mouth.

The world whirled around me, and I crumpled to the ground.