I never imagined my family would one day argue over property, voices raised, everyone clamouring to claim their fair share like a scene plucked from a raucous drama. Im no longer a young mana lifetime of responsibility on my shouldersand at twenty, all I want is to stand on my own two feet, but my brother is just fourteen. What does he want with a flat? Hes not even finished secondary school yet, still wet behind the ears.
My parents think of him as a child, and so do I, honestly. It makes sense, really: Im at university, working hard, but I live in my fathers flat, a place he inherited from his own parents. He offered it to me when I told him I wanted to live independently and was ready to rent somewhere myself.
It was a generous gift from my parents, and I started fixing up the place, hoping that one day it might truly belong to me. All that changed the day Dad and I had a rowcant even remember what started itbut it hurt him when I insisted Id manage just fine on my own.
Next thing I knew, we were all sitting in the living room for a family meeting. My parents laid it out: if I was so independent, then I should move out. They wanted to let the flat, make use of it themselves, and besides, it wasnt just mine to stake a claim onmy brother needed to be factored in as well.
I cant understand the logic. I could have Dads flat, my brother could stay with Mum and Dad where they live nowwhats the problem? But instead, my parents (with my brothers eager agreement) are talking about selling both places. Theyll split the proceeds, and my brother and I are to buy our own properties.
Im dead set against it. Why go through all the hassledealing with estate agents, forking out stamp duty and solicitors feeswhen we already have two perfectly good flats? It makes no sense.
But what shocks me most is how ready my parents are to throw me out, just for wanting a bit of independence.
Maybe theyll come round, cool off, and well find a way to patch things up, but right now, Im not about to make the first move. Their whole stance feels petty, and my young brother just goes along with them because he doesnt know any better. Theyre pitting us against each other, setting us up for some future falling out so they can force us to sell whatever we inherit.
