Debra was a 52-year-old woman who, despite her age, remained energetic and lived in a youthful spirit. She worked three jobs to support her family, as her husband Austin had lost his job over 20 years ago and had given up looking for a new job. At first, he actively tried to find work, but soon he gave up and became more and more dependent on Debra. He spent his days on the couch, lounging around while Debra worked to support the family. Their life had not changed – she always had enough to eat and something to wear, all thanks to her wife’s efforts. They had married at a young age: Debra was 19 and Austin was 20. They were in love and married quickly after Debra became pregnant with their daughter Kayla. Kayla, too, married young and soon divorced her husband, leaving her with a small child. Due to the need to care for the child, she could not work, so Debra became her main financial supporter. At first, Kayla accepted her mother’s help, but over time she became more and more dependent on Debra’s money without trying to find work herself. This situation continued for a long time, and Debra continued to sacrifice her time and energy for others. But one day, as some teenagers passed her in a coffee shop line and ignored her comments, Debra realized how much time and energy she had sacrificed for others while neglecting herself. “Excuse me, please! Don’t you see me? It was my turn!” she said through gritted teeth.
“Excuse me, madam, children will be children, right?” the young man at the counter replied with a confused smile. “What about you?” asked one of the teenagers. “Where are you rushing to?” asked the other mockingly. “I don’t think retirees need to rush anywhere,” added the third teenager. “You can stand in line all day,” they said together as they walked on to pick up their orders. Debra had never met such naughty children, which surprised her, but most of all, what they said shocked her. On the way home, she looked in the mirror and realized how much she had changed. The many wrinkles on her face, the gray hair – all of it reminded her of how much she had neglected herself while taking care of others. At that moment, she decided it was time for a change. She called her daughter and told her that she would no longer send her money.
This was a real shock for Kayla. Debra also decided to stop financially supporting her husband, saying that she had had enough of carrying the family’s financial burden and now wanted to focus on herself. It was a difficult decision, but Debra felt that she could no longer continue like this. Debra went to the hairdresser, got a new hairstyle, bought some stylish clothes and felt really alive. When she came home, her husband and daughter were terrified. Austin did not understand why she had suddenly changed, and Kayla was outraged that her mother had stopped financial support. But Debra stuck to her decision.
After that, Debra filed for divorce, stating that she was no longer able to take care of her husband, who did not want to take responsibility, and her daughter, who was used to her mother supporting her. Austin tried to win her back after finding work, but Debra had already made her decision. A month later, she quit the unloved jobs and kept only the one that gave her joy. Debra began to live for herself, traveling and helping her daughter as much as she could, but she no longer felt guilt about pursuing her own desires. She did not regret her decision even when Austin tried to win her back. Now she lived her own life, full of joy and new opportunities.
