My Mother's Tears After I Stopped Sending Money

Synopsis

On payday, I grabbed a two-buck slice of pizza from the shop under my office. My phone buzzed. Mom: [Avery, when are you wire transferring the cash? Liam needs to cover his lease by Friday.] I opened my banking app, wired 3,500 dollars, and hit confirm. My account balance: 107.42 dollars. I had to make those hundred bucks last until my next paycheck in two weeks. I picked at the crust and scrolled through my brother Liam's Instagram feed. He was lounging at some upscale sushi fusion spot. Three platters of sashimi and a bottle of premium sake sat in front of him. Location: Oakhaven, The Gilded Row. Caption: [The startup grind is brutal, but you have to invest in yourself.] He'd dragged four buddies along—one hundred a head. I set the phone aside and chewed the last scrap of cold crust. Two dollars, and I wasn't leaving a single drop.