Its often said that were responsible for everything that happens in our lives, and that we have ourselves to blame for it. The choices we make each day shape the way we live.
Looking back, I see now that I made a poor decision when I chose to tie my future to a man who wasnt to be taken seriously. In my youth, I was absolutely besotted with Philip, and although I always knew he was unreliable, I convinced myself hed change for my sake. So I clung to hope. But the truth is, people are who they are. Even after I gave birth to our son, Philips ways did not change.
Month after month, Id hear about more of his escapades. Neighbours told me, friends gossiped, even family members let things slip. It was humiliating, and I felt deeply wounded and ashamed. I endured it all for five years, then finally gave up and filed for divorce. On the positive side, Philip wasnt greedy. He left me his flat as long as I didnt demand maintenance. My son and I had no desire to live there; instead, I let it out and moved in with my mother, who needed care. Thats how things went.
The rent I received was spent on my sonhis clothes, school, trips, and the usual childrens games. I tried my utmost to give him a decent upbringing. The rest of my earnings went towards bills, food, and medicine for my mother, whod been bedridden for years with illness. I thought my son appreciated all I did for him. Now Im fifty-seven, living with diabetes, injecting insulin daily, fighting to make the most of every day.
Because of my health, Im unable to work, and frankly, who would hire me at my age? I dont even have a pension, as I shifted from job to job, never settling anywhere for long. Most of the time I worked off the books to scrape together whatever extra I could. So now, I rely solely on the rent from the flat. My son is thirty-one, and only recently decided to get married. He announced that he and his wife would be moving into the flat.
When I explained Id have no money to live on, my son simply said that it was my problem. Now, I genuinely dont know what to do. I have no savings, I always need medicine, I need to eat, and I still have utility bills to pay. What should I do? How could my own son treat me like this? And what did I do to deserve it?
