“Mom, I can explain,” he started, but I held up a hand to stop him. The years of unspoken truths weighed heavy between us, but for once, I was ready to lift them into the light.

“I know you think I’ve always been a safety net, and maybe that’s on me,” I said softly. “But this—” I gestured to the folder, “—this isn’t just about money. It’s about respect, about understanding what family means beyond asking for help when it’s convenient.”

He flinched, a shadow crossing his face. “We never meant to—”

“To what?” I interrupted gently. “Forget? Take for granted? Look, I love you, and I will always be here to support you in ways that matter. But I need you to see that this isn’t healthy for either of us.”

He was silent, the ticking of the old grandfather clock filling the space between us. I could see the gears turning in his mind, processing what this meant for him, for his marriage, for us.

“Mom, I was just trying to make things work,” he finally admitted, his voice small. “The house, the bills—everything kept piling up.”

“And you didn’t think I’d understand?” I asked, a hint of sadness creeping into my tone. “I know life is hard, but you have to let others be there for you without feeling like it’s a transaction.”

He nodded slowly, the fight leaving his shoulders as they slumped. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly, genuine remorse coloring his voice. “I never wanted it to come to this.”

“Neither did I,” I replied, moving to stand beside him. “And it doesn’t have to stay this way. We can find a different path forward, one that doesn’t involve keeping score.”

He looked up at me, a mixture of hope and uncertainty in his eyes. “Do you think we can fix this?”

“I think we can try,” I said, pulling him into a hug, the folder sliding to the floor as I held my son the way I had when he was little and the world seemed so much simpler. “But you have to meet me halfway.”

As we stood there, enveloped in the warmth of the moment, I knew the road ahead wouldn’t be easy. But for the first time in a long time, I felt like we were both finally ready to take the first step.