I was paying for my sister's education by working two jobs, but she called me a “loser”

I paid for my sister's education while working two jobs only to have her call me a loser at a family dinner she was shocked when I stopped paying her rent and told everyone why she could no longer afford her lifestyle when my younger sister Lauren got into her dream College everyone in the family acted like it was the greatest accomplishment of all time my parents were beaming with pride Lauren was already talking about the career she was going to have and I was standing in the corner quietly calculating how it was all going to work

out my parents didn't have the money to pay for her education they made that clear when they started dropping hints in family conversations Lauren is so smart but college is so expensive these days my mother would say looking at me as if I didn't already know where this was going I didn't have much I was working as a mechanic and trying to save up for a house but Lauren was my sister and I figured what's the harm in helping so I I pitched in at first it was small things for textbooks some groceries but it

didn't stop there soon I was paying her rent her utilities even her nights out when she needed to de-stress every time she asked for money it came with an excuse I'll pay you back when I graduate or Mom and Dad just can't help right now what made it worse was that my parents acted as if I was obligated to help family takes care of family bade say as if I wasn't already breaking my back working two jobs to keep them afloat Lauren meanwhile acted like the world revolved around her she'd post pictures of fancy dinners

and weekend trips smiling as if she wasn't living on my dime I kept telling myself this was temporary once she graduates it'll all be worth it I thought but deep down I was starting to resent the fact that my life was on hold while hers was moving full steam ahead and I was was footing the bill I thought things would get better once Lauren settled into her College routine I imagined she'd realize how much I was doing for her and show some gratitude but if anything her entitlement only grew the first real sign was her

spending habits while I was skipping meals and working late shifts to pay her rent Lauren was flaunting her new wardrobe on social media designer handbags trendy shoes fancy dinners things I could never afford for myself at first I tried to rationalize maybe she got a part-time job or maybe she was just overdoing it for appearances but when I asked her about it she Shrugged it off everyone at school dresses like that she said I don't want to look like I don't fit in it wasn't just her attitude about money it was everything she treated me

like a walking ATM never asking how I was or if I needed help my parents weren't any better every time I tried tried to talk about how much I was struggling they'd Guild me into keeping quiet she's your sister my mother would say she's building a future you should be proud to help her but it wasn't just helping it was sacrificing my weekends were gone my savings were gone and that house I'd always dreamed of forget it meanwhile Lauren couldn't even be bothered to send a thank you note instead she called to complain about her

professors her work or her roommates she never once asked how I managed to juggle two jobs just to keep her afloat the resentment I'd buried began to Bubble to the surface I was tired of being treated like my life didn't matter as long as hers was moving forward the Turning Point came when Lauren casually mentioned that she was thinking about studying abroad for a semester she didn't even ask me if I could afford it she just assumed I could handle it I think it would be such a great experience she said over the phone her

tone light and carefree the program costs a little more but it's a once- in a-lifetime thing right I sat there gripping the phone trying to process what she just said I could barely keep up with her regular expenses and now she wanted me to pay for a semester abroad when I brought it up with my parents hoping they'd finally come to their senses they doubled down this is an incredible opportunity my mom said you'll figure it out you you always do I was floored no acknowledgement of how hard I was working no concern for my

welfare just the expectation that I'd keep sacrificing because apparently that was my role in the family at the same time Lauren's Behavior became impossible to ignore she'd called to complain about the most trivial things like how her roommate borrowed her shoes or how the campus cafeteria didn't have any real lattes she also began to make subtle Jabs at me she'd laugh about how I was always working and joke that I was married to my job she doesn't appreciate you a cooworker said one night when I was venting during a break you bend over backwards and

she acts like you owe her for the first time I began to wonder if they were right family dinner was supposed to be a casual get together my parents invited me over to catch up and Lauren was back in town for a break from school I didn't want to go but I figured I could stand a few hours when I arrived the atmosphere was already tense my parents were fussing over Lauren asking about her classes her social life and if she needed anything else for school I sat quietly waiting for someone anyone to ask how

I was doing but of course that never happened halfway through dinner Lauren started talking about the study abroad program again she went on and on about how amazing it would be and and how everyone she knew was doing it she looked right at me and said I hope you're ready for a little extra work Big Brother these programs don't come cheap I froze I couldn't believe she had the audacity to say that in front of everyone like it was a done deal maybe you should get a part-time job I said trying to keep my tone

light Lauren laughed me a part-time job that's funny I'm too busy with school that was it the last straw I put down my fork and stared at her you're joking right you think I'm just going to keep funding your lifestyle forever while you sit around doing nothing the room fell silent my parents looked at me as if I just sworn at the dinner table Lauren's jaw dropped but she quickly recovered what's your problem she snapped you've always been so bitter just because your life isn't going anywhere doesn't mean you have to take it out on

me that hit me like a punch in the gut after all I'd done for her sacrificing my time my money my dreams this was how she saw me a failure her words hung in the air like a slap in the face I could feel my blood boiling but I wasn't going to let her have the last word bitter I said leaning forward you think I'm bitter because my life isn't going anywhere Lauren my life isn't going anywhere because I was too busy funing yours my parents immediately jumped to her defense that's inappropriate my mom said

her voice sharp you're her brother it's your job to support her my job I repeated letting out a bitter laugh when did it become my job to work two jobs so she could live in luxury when did it become my job to sacrifice my entire future so she can have hers handed to her on a silver platter Lauren folded her arms and rolled R her eyes oh there it is she muttered the Martyr routine that was it I was done you know what I said standing up go ahead and call me a failure Lauren but

at least I worked for everything I have what have you done nothing you sit around spending my money while you pretend you're better than me I turned to my parents and you two are no better you've enabled their selfishness at every turn and I'm done playing along I'm not paying for anything anymore not her rent not her tuition nothing the silence was deafening Lauren's face went pale and for the first time she looked genuinely shocked you can't do this she said her voice shaking how am I supposed to live figure it out I said grabbing

my jacket I've been doing it for years maybe it's time for you to learn I left that dinner feeling a mixture of anger and relief for the first time I'd stood up for myself but I knew the Fallout was coming sure enough it didn't take long the next morning my phone exploded with texts and calls first it was Lauren she began with passive aggressive messages thanks for running dinner hope you feel good about leaving your own sister out to dry when I didn't respond the guilt trips began you're really going to leave me like this

after all I've been through I ignored every message if she wanted to play the victim she could do it without me then my parents got involved my mom called first her tone dripping with disappointment I don't know what's gotten into you she said Lauren needs your help she's your sister she's been my financial responsibility for years I shot back it's time for her to grow up and take care of herself my father was no better he called later that day and saidou being selfish you're punishing her for no reason what's she going to do now

get a job I said bluntly like the rest of us the real kicker came later that week when I got a call from Lauren's landlord apparently she told him that I was the one who paid her rent and when the payment didn't go through he came straight to me she's not my problem anymore I told him you need to talk to her that conversation must have been a wakeup call for Lauren because a few days later she showed up at my apartment unannounced she looked disheveled and panicked a far cry from The Confident entitled person

I was used to seeing you can't just cut me off she said as soon as I opened the door yes I can I replied leaning against the door frame Lauren stood there shifting from foot to foot like a child caught in a lie she was wasn't used to hearing no from me or anyone else for that matter you don't understand she began her voice Rising with desperation if you don't help me I'm going to lose my apartment I can't just move back home Mom and Dad don't have room for me not my problem I said

flatly her jaw dropped not your problem you're my brother and for years I've been more than that I replied stepping forward I've been your safety net your bank your excuse to avoid growing up I worked two jobs so you could Live Your Dream and the one time I asked for respect you call me a failure so no Lauren it's not my problem anymore she blinked as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing I didn't mean it like that she stammered I was upset and I just wasn't thinking you never think I shot back you

never think of anyone but yourself you used use me you used mom and dad and now you're panicking because you finally have to face the consequences then she started to cry big dramatic sobs that might have worked on someone else but I wasn't falling for it anymore you're not going to guilt me into changing my mind I said you need to figure this out for yourself get a job budget your money do whatever it takes but leave me out of it she didn't like that answer you're being cruel she snapped wiping away her tears you're

supposed to help the family that's what family does no I said my voice firm family supports each other they don't take advantage of each other and call it love and until you figure that out don't bother coming back here I closed the door cutting off the excuse she was about to make for the first time I felt in control of my life again after closing the door on Lauren I braced myself for the Fallout she wasn't the type to suffer in silence and I knew she tried to turn this into a sob story for our

parents sure enough they called me the next day Furious mom started with the usual Guilt Trip how could you do this to your sister she demanded she's struggling and you left her when she needed you the most I didn't hold back struggling she's been living off my paycheck for years while acting like she's the queen of the world maybe it's time she learned what struggling actually looks like Dad Charmed in next accusing me of being heartless and ungrateful for all they'd done for me this part made me laugh ungrateful I said you're kidding right I've

been funding Lauren's lifestyle while you two sat back and cheered her on like she was the next big thing meanwhile I've been working my ass off just to keep her comfortable the more I laid it out the calmer they became by the end of the call they had nothing to say except that I was tearing the family apart as for Lauren her meltdown was spectacular she plastered her social media with vague posts about how some people only care about themselves and being let down by those closest to you she even had the audacity to start

a GoFundMe page for her rent claiming she'd been blindsided by an unexpected expense her friends commented with FK concern asking if if there was anything they can do to help but the donations barely trickled in apparently people weren't as eager to support her lifestyle as she'd hoped meanwhile word of the drama spread through the family like wildfire my aunt called to say she' heard I was being unreasonable but after I explained the situation she quickly changed her tune she really expected you to keep paying her rent she asked in disbelief welcome to my world I

I replied after my parents showed up at my door I realized just how far this whole situation had gone it wasn't just Lauren's entitlement anymore it was the entire family enabling her treating her problems as if they were M to solve they didn't stop at guilt my mother began to spread the narrative that I had failed Lauren and the family I heard from cousins and relatives I hadn't spoken to in years suddenly chiming in with messages like it's not fair to let her struggle or family comes first but as the days passed Lauren's facade of

control began to crack I heard from mutual friends that she had moved back in with my parents after being evicted of course that wasn't enough for her she made it clear that she expected to be cuddled there too one friend told me she'd overheard Lauren complaining about the food at home she's mad that her parents don't cook her real meals my friend said laughing she even joked that they should hire someone to take care of her since you're not around to do it anymore hearing this only cemented my decision to cut ties if my family

wanted to enable her behavior that was their choice but I wasn't going to keep burning myself out for someone who couldn't even show basic gratitude Lauren's downward spiral continued she moved back in with my parents who cuddled her like a helpless child they enabled her every whim using what little saving they had left to support her lifestyle meanwhile they doubled down on blaming me for her situation acting as if I'd committed some heinous crime by cutting her off I heard from relatives that Lauren was still spreading lies about me telling anyone who would listen that

I had abandoned her during a difficult time she conveniently left out the part where she'd been leeching off me for years while flaunting her privilege like it was her Birthright but her downfall wasn't just Financial it was social word of her GoFundMe scam spread and the same friends who once joined her for fancy dinners now avoided her phone calls without me picking up the tab she had nothing to offer them the Tipping Point came when my parents called me in a panic apparently Lauren had run up a credit card dead in their name maxing out

the limit to finance a shopping spree They begged me to help claiming they couldn't make the payments on their own I couldn't help but laugh after all they UND defending them enabling them vilifying me they had the audacity to come crawling back this is your mess to clean up I told them firmly you chose to support her you chose to ignore her behavior and now you're dealing with the consequences for once they didn't argue maybe they finally realized that I wasn't going to swoop in and save her like I had so many times before that

was the last I heard from either of them I moved on with my life focusing on building my future without their constant drama weighing me down it took years to repair the damage they'd done but I came out stronger for it as for Lauren the last I heard she was still living with my parents stuck in the same cycle of entitlement and excuses part of me felt sorry for them stuck with their selfishness but mostly I felt relieved they had made their bed and now they could lie in it