Enough! Im done carrying everyone on my back! Ive got not a single penny leftgo sort yourselves out! Emma shouts, blocking the joint credit card.
She pushes the flats front door open and instantly hears voices from the kitchen. Her husband Tom is chatting with his mother, Margaret Hughes. The older woman arrived this morning and set herself up at the kitchen table, as usual.
So, whats the problem with the telly? Tom asks.
Its ancient, Margaret complains. The picture is fuzzy, the sound cuts in and out. It shouldve been replaced ages ago.
Emma slips off her shoes and steps into the kitchen. Margaret sits with a mug of tea; Tom fiddles with his phone.
Ah, Emmas here, Tom says cheerfully. We were just discussing Mums TV.
Whats wrong with it? Emma asks, weary.
Its completely broken. We need a new one, Margaret replies.
Tom puts his phone down and looks at his wife.
You always foot the bill for stuff like this. Buy Mum a TV. We dont want to dip into our own money.
Emma freezes, hanging up her coat. He says it as matteroffact, like hes asking for a loaf of bread.
I dont feel like it either. And you? Emma retorts.
Well, you have a good job and earn a decent wage, Tom explains. My salary is modest.
Emma frowns, studying Tom as if checking whether hes serious. He nods, his face radiating confidence in his own logic.
Im not a bank, Emma says slowly.
Come on, Tom waves her off. Its just one TV.
Emma sits at the table, replaying the last few months in her mind. Who paid the rent? Emma. Who bought the groceries? Emma. Who covered the utilities? Emma again. And the medication for Margaret, who constantly frets about her blood pressure and joints. And the loan Margaret took out for a bathroom remodelshe stopped paying after three months, and Emma took it over too.
Remember anything? Tom asks.
I remember whos been covering everything in this family for the past two years, Emma replies.
Margaret jumps into the conversation.
Emma, youre the lady of the house, so the responsibility falls on you. Is it really that hard to buy a TV for Toms mother? Its a family purchase.
For the family? Emma repeats. And wheres this family when money actually needs to be spent?
Its not like we do nothing, Tom protests. I work, and Mum helps around the house.
What kind of help? Emma asks, surprised. Margaret just comes over for tea and to whine about her ailments.
Margaret bristles.
What do you mean just to talk? I give you advice on how to run a household properly.
Advice about how Im supposed to support everyone?
Who else would? Tom asks, genuinely puzzled. You have a steady job and a good income.
Emma studies Tom closely. He truly believes its normal for his wife to shoulder the entire family financially.
And what do you do with your money? Emma probes.
I save it, Tom answers. Just in case.
For what case?
You never know. A crisis, a layoff. You need a safety cushion.
And wheres my safety cushion?
Youve got a secure job; they wont sack you.
Emma says calmly, Maybe its time you and your mother decide for yourselves what to buy and with what money.
Tom smirks. Why talk like that? You handle the money so well. We already try not to add extra expenses onto you.
Not add extra expenses? Emmas face flushes. Do you really think youre not a burden?
Its not like we ask you to buy something every day, Margaret interjects, defending her son. Only when its truly necessary.
Is a TV truly necessary?
Of course! How can you live without one? The news, the shows.
You can stream everything online.
I dont get the internet, Margaret snaps. I need a proper TV.
Emma sees the conversation looping. In their heads, both Margaret and Tom genuinely believe Emma is obliged to provide for everyone while they pinch every penny for themselves.
Fine, Emma says. Tell me how much this TV costs.
You can find a decent one for four hundred pounds, Tom brightens. A big screen with internet.
Four hundred pounds, Emma repeats.
Yeah, not that much.
Tom, do you know how much I spend on our family each month?
Well a lot, probably.
About seven hundred pounds a month rent, groceries, utilities, your mothers medication, her loan.
Tom shrugs. Its family. Thats normal.
And how much do you spend on the family?
Sometimes I buy milk. Bread.
Tom, you contribute at most fifty pounds a month to the family, Emma calculates. And not even every month.
But Im saving for a rainy day.
Whose rainy day? Yours?
Ours, of course.
Then why is the money sitting in your personal account and not a joint one?
Tom falls silent. Margaret quiets too.
Emma, youre saying the wrong things, Margaret finally says. My son provides for the family.
With what? Emma asks, astonished. The last time Tom bought groceries was six months ago, and only because I was ill and asked him to go out.
But he works!
And I work. Yet my salary goes to everyone, while his goes only to him.
Thats just how it is, Tom says uneasily. The woman runs the household.
Running the household doesnt mean shouldering everyones costs, Emma retorts.
What do you suggest? Margaret asks.
I suggest everyone funds themselves.
Hows that supposed to work? Margaret cries. What about family?
Family means everyone contributes equally, not one person pulling everyone else along.
Tom looks bewildered. Emma, thats a strange way to think. Were husband and wife, we have a joint budget.
A joint budget is when both people put money into one pot and spend it together. What do we have? I put money in, and you keep yours to yourself.
Not for yourself Im saving it.
For yourself. Because when moneys needed, youll spend it on your own needs, not shared ones.
How do you know?
I just do. Right now your mother needs a TV. You have four hundred pounds set aside. Will you buy it for her?
Tom hesitates. Well thats my savings.
Exactly. Yours.
Margaret tries to turn the tide.
Emma, you shouldnt speak to your husband like that. A man should feel like the head of the family.
And the head should support the family, not live off his wife.
Tom does not live off you! Margaret protests.
He does. For the past two years Ive paid for the flat, food, utilities, your medication, and your loan. And Tom has been saving for his personal needs.
Its only temporary, Tom tries to justify. Theres a crisis, times are tough.
Weve been in a crisis for three years now. Every month you shift more expenses onto me.
Im not shifting them; Im asking for help.
Help? Emma laughs short. Did you pay the rent at any point in the last six months?
No, but
Did you buy groceries?
Sometimes.
Tom, buying milk once a month isnt buying groceries.
Okay, I didnt. But I work and bring money into the family.
You bring it in and immediately stash it in your personal account.
Im not hiding it; Im saving for the future.
For your future.
Margaret jumps back in.
Whats gotten into you? You never complained before.
I used to think it was temporary, that youd soon pull your weight with family expenses.
And now?
Now I see Im being used like a cash cow.
How can you say that! Tom erupts.
What else am I supposed to call it when one person supports everyone else and they still demand gifts?
What gifts? The TV is something Mum needs!
Tom, if your mother needs a TV, she should buy it. Or you can buy it from your savings.
But her pension is small!
And is my salary made of rubberstretchable without limit?
You can afford it.
I can, but I dont want to.
Silence falls. Tom and Margaret exchange glances.
What do you mean you dont want to? Tom asks quietly.
It means Im tired of supporting the family alone.
But were a family; were supposed to help each other.
Exactly. Each other, not one person doing all the work.
Emma stands, realizing they view her as a cash machine.
Where are you going? Tom asks.
To take care of things.
Without a word, Emma pulls out her phone and opens the banking app at the table. Her fingers move quicklyshe blocks the joint card Tom had access to, then transfers all her savings to a new account she opened a month ago, just in case.
What are you doing? Tom asks warily.
Handling the finances, Emma replies curtly.
He tries to peek, but she angles the screen away. Five minutes later, all the money sits in her personal account, inaccessible to anyone else.
Whats happening? Tom asks, alarmed.
What should have happened a long time ago is finally happening, Emma says.
She goes into the card settings and permanently revokes access for everyone but herself. Tom stares, bewildered, not grasping the scale.
Margaret jumps up.
What have you done? Well be left without money!
Youll have the money you earn yourselves, Emma says calmly.
What do you mean, yourselves? What about family? What about a joint budget? Margaret screams.
Margaret, we never had a joint budget. There was only my budget, which everyone fed off.
Youve lost your mind! Margaret shouts. Were a family!
Emmas voice steadies. From today onward we live separately. I am not obligated to pay for your whims.
What whims? Tom objects. These are necessary expenses!
A fourhundredpound TV is a necessary expense?
For Mum, yes!
Then let Mum buy it with her pension. Or you buy it with your savings.
Margaret rushes to Tom. Why are you staying quiet? Put her in her place! Shes your wife!
Tom mumbles something unintelligible, avoiding Emmas eyes. He knows shes right but wont admit it.
Tom, Emma says quietly, do you really think I should support your whole family?
Well were husband and wife.
Husband and wife means partnership, not one person funding everyone else.
But my salary is smaller!
Your salary is smaller, but your savings are larger because you never spend them on anything but yourself.
Tom falls silent again. Seeing her son reluctant to pressure his wife, Margaret decides to act.
Emma, give the money back now! Im running out of medication!
Buy it with your own money.
My pension is tiny!
Ask your son. He has savings.
Tom, give me money for my medicine! Margaret demands.
Tom falters. Mum, Im saving that for the family.
I am the family! she shouts.
But those are my savings.
See? Emma notes. When it comes to spending, everyones money suddenly becomes personal.
Margaret changes tactics. Emma, lets talk calmly. Youre a kind woman; youve always helped.
I helped until I realized I was being used.
Youre not being usedyoure appreciated!
Appreciated for what? For paying all the bills?
For supporting the family.
Im not supporting a family. Im supporting two adults who can work and earn their own money.
The next morning Emma goes to the bank and opens a separate account in her name. She prints statements for the past two years showing all money spent on Tom and his mother groceries, rent, utilities, medication, and the loan. Its all on Emma.
When she gets home, she pulls out a large suitcase and starts packing Toms belongings shirts, trousers, socks folding everything neatly.
What are you doing? Tom asks when he returns from work.
Packing your things.
Why?
Because you no longer live here.
What do you mean I dont? This is my flat too!
The lease is in my name. I decide who lives here.
But were married!
For now, yes. Not for long.
Emma rolls the suitcase into the hallway and holds out her hand.
The keys.
What keys?
To the flat. All sets.
Emma, are you serious?
Absolutely.
Reluctantly Tom hands over the keys. Emma checks main set and spare.
Does your mother have a set?
Yes, she drops by now and then.
Call her. Have her return them.
Why?
Because Margaret no longer has the right to enter my flat.
An hour later Margaret arrives, eyes widening at the suitcase in the hallway.
What does this mean? she asks sharply.
It means your son is moving out.
Moving out where? This is his home!
This is my home. I no longer want to support freeloaders.
How dare you! Margaret explodes.
I dare. Hand over the keys.
What keys?
To the flat. I know you have a duplicate.
I wont give them back!
Then Ill call the police.
Margaret raises a ruckus, shouting that Emma is destroying the family, that relatives shouldnt be treated like this, that she always considered her daughterinlaw a good girl.
The good girl is gone, Emma says calmly and dials emergency.
Hello, we need assistance. Former relatives refuse to return the keys to my flat and wont leave the premises.
Half an hour later two officers arrive, check the ownership papers and tell Margaret, Maam, return the keys and leave the flat.
But my son lives here!
Youre not the owner and have no right to dispose of the property.
With witnesses present, Margaret reluctantly throws the keys onto the floor.
Youll regret this! she shouts as she leaves. Youll end up alone!
Ill be alone, but with my own money, Emma replies.
Tom silently picks up the suitcase and follows his mother out. At the door he turns back.
Emma, maybe youll reconsider?
Theres nothing left to reconsider.
A week later Emma files for divorce. Theres almost no joint property to split the flat belonged to Emma from the start, and the car was bought with her own money. Nothing to divide.
Tom tries to call, asks to meet, promises everything will change, that hell pay all expenses himself.
Too late, Emma answers. Trust doesnt return.
But I love you!
Do you love me or my wallet?
You, of course!
Then why did you live off me for three years without a hint of remorse?
Tom has no answer.
The divorce finalises quickly; Tom doesnt contest, understanding how pointless it is. The court declares the marriage dissolved.
For another month Margaret keeps calling Emma crying, then threatening, then begging for money for medication. Emma listens silently and hangs up.
My blood pressure is up because of you! Margaret complains.
Ask your son to treat you; he has savings.
He says hes sorry to spend the money!
Great. Now you understand how I felt for three years.
Six months later Emma bumps into Tom at the supermarket. He looks tired; his clothes have lost their former crispness.
Hi, Tom greets awkwardly.
Hello, Emma replies.
How are you?
Fine, and you?
Great. Im living with Mum for now.
I see.
You know, I realized I was wrong. I really did dump too much on you.
You realized?
Yes. Now I pay for all of Mums expenses myself, and I see how hard it is.
But you have savings.
I had. I spent them on Mums medication and on fixing her flat.
And? Does it hurt to spend it?
Tom pauses, then answers honestly, It does. A lot.
Now imagine doing that for three years straight.
It hurts, he admits. Forgive me.
I already have. But that changes nothing.
What if I try to make it right? Become a different man?
Tom, you only became different when you were left without my money. Thats not changeits being forced by circumstances.
But Ive realized my mistake!
You realized it only when you had to pay yourself. If Id kept supporting everyone, youd never have learned anything.
Tom nods, knowing Emma is right.
I have to go, Emma says, heading for the checkout.
At home she brews tea and sits by the window with a book. The flat is quiet no one demanding money for TVs, medicines, or anything else. The money in her account belongs solely to Emma. No one tells her how to spend it.
When she closed the door on her exhusband six months earlier, Emma felt truly light for the first time in years. Freedom from financial parasites proved worth more than any family tie. Now every pound she spends is a conscious choice, not coercion.
Emma never again lets anyone climb onto her shoulders. She learns to say no without guilt, and money once more serves her own plans, not the freeloaders around her.
