Raising Him Killed Me

My nephew, Jason, came to live with my family for three years while he went to high school in the city.

I took care of him the best I could, never once thinking it was a burden.

The day he got accepted into a top-ranked university, he went live online.

He told thousands of strangers about his miserable life living under someone else's roof.

"I know I shouldn't say this, but I really suffered through it.

"Those days of depending on others… I never want to think about them ever again.

"I just want all parents to know this. No matter how poor you are, keep your kids with you. Even eating scraps together is better than watching another family of three enjoy a feast while you sit alone in the corner."

He became an overnight sensation, so did I.

The people on the internet dug up everything about me. My name, my job, my address. I was doxxed.

I died depressed from the online bullying.

However, I somehow got to do it all over again. This time, I was not going to be the saint anymore.

My nephew, Jason Wheeler, had just been accepted into Thornbridge High, the city's most prestigious high school.

A few days before school started, my sister, Esther, showed up at my door with him.

The moment I saw them, I came out of a daze. The remnants of my memories in my past life reminded me that I had been given another chance at life.

I was back to the exact day my nephew first stepped into my house.

Half an hour before they arrived, I immediately called my in-laws and explained everything to them, asking them to play along with my act.

When my husband, Daniel, heard that Jason was staying over, he thought nothing of it. "It's just a kid living here. Why are you making a big deal over this?"

"This isn't a sleepover," I snapped. "We'll have to look after him for three years. He will be our responsibility. His parents don't plan to handle anything. I'm just his aunt. I can't take this on!"

I added, "Just don't speak later. Let me do the talking."

My in-laws agreed. "Eva is right. Henry is in his senior year, and it's a stressful time for him. Another child under the roof might affect him. If you don't understand that, just shut up!"

Daniel instantly shut up.

When Esther arrived with Jason and bags upon bags of luggage, she was stunned to see that my in-laws were there, too.

She smiled and said, "Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, I didn't know you were here! I'm sorry to bother you!"

She then turned to me and said, "Eva, I was thinking of letting Jason stay here. He got into Thornbridge High, which is close to you. His father and I work out of town, so we'd be relying on you."

Esther then stuffed a wad of bills in my hand, saying, "You know us. We're not educated people. In our family, only you and Daniel are the educated ones. I feel relieved to have Jason living with you."

She added quickly, "He doesn't eat much!"

That was what she said in our past life, too. That thousand dollars was supposed to cover everything. Jason refused to live on campus, and I had to bend over backward to protect his feelings. Out of respect and afraid of confrontation, I accepted.

What did I get in return? A nephew who bit the hand that raised him. Three years of living the good life, yet he blamed it all on me.

Hearing what Esther said at that moment, I did not accept the wad of bills.

"Esther, come on. We're family. We don't talk about money. He can stay over for a few days. Tomorrow, I'll help him register for the dorms. This money should be for his living expenses! A thousand a month is more than enough for a high schooler!"

Esther was a little taken aback.

While she was in a daze, I patted Jason on the shoulder and said, "Thornbridge High has great facilities and good food! Your mother loves you very much, so you have to work hard and make her proud, okay?"

I added, "Your cousin goes there, too. He'll look out for you!"

Esther was just about to say something when my mother-in-law, Mary, chimed in, "Yes. Jason has done well for himself to get into Thornbridge High. The teachers there are responsible, and living on campus is really convenient. You don't have to worry. He can come home for dinners on the weekends. That would be perfect."

Esther's smile stiffened.

I thought that it would be enough and that she would back down, but she did not.

She said, "You've misunderstood me. I don't want him to stay in the dorms. The fees add up over the years, you know, so I was thinking–"

Before she could finish, I immediately pulled her to the side and said, "Esther, my in-laws are living with me. We don't have space here."

"It's fine. Jason can sleep on the couch!"

I deliberately raised my voice. "How could he sleep on the couch? Esther, you'll hurt the kid's self-esteem. You'll make it seem like he is living under somebody else's roof."

I pressed on, "The dorms in Thornbridge High are excellent. Trust me. Spending a few extra thousand would mean better sleep for Jason. He would have easy access to the teachers for help as well. Don't be foolish!"

My son, Henry, chimed in, "Yeah, Aunt Esther. Our dorm supervisors all graduated from top universities. It’s way better than any extra classes outside."

At that, Jason finally said, "Mom, just listen to Aunt Eva. You don't understand these things."