From real life. “Mother-in-law decided to give her apartment to her daughter”: She left us without any help, although she promised to help us

But life has taught me that promises can be deceptive.

From the beginning of our marriage to Piotr, my mother-in-law, Mrs. Krystyna, always promised that we could count on her. The apartment we rented was small, and saving for our own place seemed impossible with the rising costs of living. So when my mother-in-law offered to leave us her apartment as soon as she moved to a smaller one, we felt relieved. We believed that this would finally allow us to feel stable.

But life has taught me that promises can be deceptive.

Mrs. Krystyna was a determined and wealthy person. She had a large apartment in the city center, which she had been planning to sell or give away for a long time. She often spoke of it at family gatherings.

– „Someday this apartment will be yours– she would say to me and Piotr, adding with a smile: – „After all, you need it the most.”

Her words were like a promise to us, which gave us hope. We planned our future, believing that our mother-in-law would keep her word. We even started looking for a company that would help us with the renovation.

One day, during Sunday dinner, Mrs. Krystyna decided to make an important announcement. She smiled at her daughter, Karolina, and then looked at us.

– „I thought about it for a long time and made a decision. I decided to give the apartment to Karolina.”

These words were like a blow. I looked at Piotr, who had paled. He couldn't get a word out.

– “Karolina?” – I asked, trying to control the trembling of my voice. – “But you said that this apartment would be for us. It was supposed to be the help we were counting on.”

Mrs. Krystyna shrugged as if she didn't see a problem with it.

– „Karolina is lonely, Ania. She has it harder than you do. You have each other, and she has to cope on her own. I think it's the best solution for her.”

Silence fell in the room. Karolina sat quietly, avoiding our gaze. I saw a mixture of guilt and satisfaction in her gaze. Piotr finally broke the silence.

– „Mom, but you said this apartment would help us get back on our feet. Why are you changing your mind now?”

Mother-in-law looked at him with slight irritation.

– „Piotr, don't be selfish. Karolina is your sister. I thought you would understand. You two can handle it.”

These words were like a slap in the face. I felt anger rising inside me.

– „We'll manage? We've always lived in the belief that we could count on your help. It's not a matter of selfishness – it's a matter of honesty.”

After dinner, we left in silence. On the way home, Piotr tried to calm me down, but I could see that he felt betrayed, too. We spent the next few days avoiding contact with my mother-in-law, trying to understand how she could change her mind without a word of explanation.

Karolina finally called me, trying to smooth things over.

– „Ania, I didn't ask my mother for this apartment. It was her decision. I understand that you're disappointed, but I have no influence over what she did either.”

Her words brought no relief. I felt that my mother-in-law had divided our family without considering the consequences of her actions.

Today, my relationship with Mrs. Krystyna is cool. Karolina lives in an apartment that was supposed to be ours, and we are still renting a small place, trying to save up for our own. I have learned that you cannot build your dreams on the promises of others – because they can disappear just as quickly as they appear.

Although I still feel pain and regret, I try to focus on what I have – on my husband and our future, which we will build ourselves, without anyone's help.

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