My mother’s relentless obsession with saving money cast a shadow over my childhood. Despite our comfortable life—my father was a regional manager, and my mother a nurse—she was fixated on pinching every penny. Her constant frugality frustrated me deeply, especially when Dad and I wanted to enjoy simple pleasures.
My father, Henry, was my favorite person. His tragic death when I was seventeen shattered me, and my relationship with Mom deteriorated even further. When she drained my college fund, I vowed never to forgive her.
Years later, after her passing, I came across her diary. In it, she revealed the struggles she faced with my father’s hidden gambling addiction.
She had been saving to pay off his debts, sacrificing her reputation in my eyes. One entry read: “I had to drain Cara’s college fund… It was the only way to keep us from losing the house.”