“So glad you guys are getting a break. You deserve it.”

Deserve it. What did they deserve? My parents had retired early with no savings and expected me to fix it. My sister had quit three jobs in two years because she “didn’t like the vibe.”

Another comment from a neighbor back home:

“Wow, is that a rental? Looks expensive.”

And then my mother’s reply. I stared at the words until they blurred.

“No, it’s Aurora’s place. She said we could use it whenever we wanted. So blessed to have a generous daughter.”

I nearly dropped the phone.

“She said we could use it whenever.”

It was a lie. A clean, simple, devastating lie.

I had never said that. In fact, three months ago I told them specifically that the house was off-limits because I was doing renovations. I told them I wasn’t ready for guests. I told them I needed space.