When my parents died in a tragic accident, my life changed instantly. At 28, I became the legal guardian of my 14-year-old brother, Liam. Those first months were filled with grief as I tried to support him while barely staying afloat myself.
Over time, we grew closer, and I worked hard to give him stability. By 16, Liam was responsible, hardworking, and still enjoying his teenage years. A year ago, I met Melissa, who seemed caring and supportive. She admired my dedication to Liam, and after months of dating, I asked her to move in. She agreed—on the condition that she wouldn’t contribute financially. I accepted.
On moving day, I stepped out for groceries. When I returned, Liam’s clothes, books, and computer were stacked on the porch. Melissa calmly said it was time for him to move out so we could “have space.” When she called him a “freeloader,” I realized she didn’t respect my brother or our bond.
I told her to leave immediately. That night, Liam and I unpacked his things together, laughing through the hurt. Losing Melissa wasn’t a loss at all—she showed who she truly was.
Family comes first. Anyone who doesn’t respect my brother has no place in our lives, and we’ll keep facing everything together.