I knew that Ewa had the means to help.
I was sitting in the kitchen, staring at the phone screen. The name of my older daughter, Ewa, was on the display. The conversation we had had a few minutes earlier was still ringing in my ears.
– „Mom, I can't help her. It's not my responsibility,– she said coldly, almost indifferently.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The younger daughter, Ania, was in a difficult situation. Her husband had lost his job, and she was struggling to support the house and the children. They needed money for an urgent operation for their youngest son. Doctors said that time was of the essence and the amount they had to raise was beyond their reach.
I knew Eva had the means to help. She was well-off, successfully running her own business. She lived in an elegant house and went on vacation to exotic places every few months. But when I asked her to support her sister, her answer was unequivocal:
– „Mom, I understand that this is a difficult situation, but everyone has to take care of themselves. I worked hard for what I have, and I'm not going to give it all away now.”
Sitting in that quiet kitchen, I couldn't hold back the tears. How is it possible that I raised a daughter who could be so selfish? I always thought that family ties were the most important, that in times of crisis we had to support each other. And now I was looking at the growing gap between my children and I felt my heart breaking.
I decided to talk to Ewa in person. The next day I went to her place. Her house was impressive – modern architecture, expensive furniture, everything perfectly matched. But this luxury brought me no comfort. On the contrary, it reminded me of her decision.
Ewa greeted me with a smile, but I saw distance in her eyes.
„Mom, I don't want us to argue&ndquo; she began before I could say anything. – “But you have to understand that I'm not a bank.”
– “It's not about the money, Ewa– I interrupted her. – “It's about your sister. About your nephew, who needs help. Can you really sleep peacefully knowing that you could have saved a life but didn't?”
She was silent for a moment. Then she sighed and looked away.
– „Mom, you don't understand. I've helped her many times. What if she gets into trouble again? I can't be her crutch forever.”
I didn't know what to say. My heart told me that Eva should talk, but her words also had their own logic. Maybe she really was tired of being the one who always saved the day. But wasn't there something more important in this situation than logic? Shouldn't love and responsibility for the family be above all this?
When I got home, I called Ania. Her voice was quiet, exhausted. I told her about the conversation with Ewa, although I tried not to say everything. I didn't want to add to her pain.
– „Mom, don't worry about a thing– Ania said. – „We'll manage somehow. We always manage.”
But I knew that wasn't true. This time the situation was too serious. I lay awake all night thinking about what I could do. Should I sell my house?? Could I find help somewhere else?? One thing I knew for sure – a family shouldn't leave each other in need. And I'll do anything to prove it to Eva, even if it means sacrificing everything I have.
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