"Thirty Days" Story

was at a friends house.
Muffled voices drifted from the master bedroom. I quietly went into the kitchen and started unpacking the groceries.
Melindas voice cut through the closed door as she asked if he was serious about the fifteen thousand dollars. I froze and listened even though I knew it was wrong.
Phillip said weakly that he was sure the team would win. Melinda was practically shouting as she said that was all their savings.
I covered my mouth with my hand. Phillip had lost fifteen thousand dollars gambling.
He desperately promised to win it back because he had a system. Melindas sharp laughter rang in my ears.
She said his system got them into my house three years ago. Phillip tried to soothe her by saying he would pay it all back.
He said he could ask me for a favor. Melinda snapped that she had had enough of favors and did not want to be more dependent on me.
I carefully placed the bag of vegetables on the counter. My heart pounded.
He was gambling again and had lied to me. There was no overtime.
The bedroom door flew open. I barely had time to turn to the refrigerator.
Melinda stormed out and slammed the door. She stopped when she saw me and said I was back already.
Her eyes were red from rage and her hair was disheveled. I asked what was for dinner and said I bought everything for a casserole.
Melinda stared at me for a few seconds. She shook her head and said she was leaving.
She grabbed her bag and rushed out. I exhaled slowly as Phillip emerged from the bedroom looking pale.
He asked if I heard everything. I nodded and asked how he could lose fifteen thousand dollars.
He lowered his eyes like a little boy. He mumbled that he thought he would get lucky this time.
I took his hand and begged him not to do this anymore. He promised to quit but we both knew it was a lie.
I told him to go rest and that I would call him when dinner was ready. I went back to cooking but Rosies words echoed in my head.
I knew Melindas anger would eventually spill over onto me. Dinner was eaten in an oppressive silence.
Phillip barely touched his food. Skyler tried to lighten the mood but quickly gave up.
After dinner I washed dishes while Phillip watched TV. Melinda returned around ten and she was not alone.
She was laughing with a woman named Jessica. Melinda said Phillip was probably asleep and the old woman was unlikely to stick her nose out.
I stood frozen in my bedroom doorway. I wondered if she was talking about me.
Jessica asked if it was cramped living with her husbands mother. Melinda said it was temporary because they had almost saved enough for a house.
She was lying. Melinda said I stick my nose into everything and that I was a grandmother stereotype.
Jessica said her mother in law was a headache too. They both laughed and a lump rose in my throat.
Melinda said the hardest part was pretending to appreciate my favors like laundry and cleaning. Jessica asked why she did not just move out.
Melinda sighed and mentioned the cost of housing. She said they had to put up with the old burden for now.
I quietly closed my bedroom door and sat on the edge of the bed. My hands were trembling but I did not let the tears fall.
I looked at my hands and remembered how they held newborns and closed the eyes of the dying. Melinda thought they were just tools for serving her family.
Rosies voice echoed in my mind again. Something cracked inside me like ice on a river.
The week after that conversation dragged by. Melindas words rang in my ears every time I saw her.
On Friday evening I was dusting the living room when Melinda came home early. She said we needed to talk.
I set down the duster and asked if something happened. She said she got a promotion and was now the manager of the laundry chain.
I told her congratulations. She said she had to do some work from home and needed a home office.
She said she was thinking about using my room. I froze and asked where I was supposed to sleep.
Melinda shrugged and suggested the storage room. She said it was too big for one person and I only slept there anyway.
A wave of anger rose in me. I said I needed to think about it.
Melinda smiled condescendingly and said she wanted to start rearranging tomorrow. She had already ordered the furniture.
I asked if she discussed this with Phillip. She said he was all for it and that it was their chance to get back on their feet.
I said I would talk to him. Phillip came home later and I asked if he agreed to put me in a storage room.
He lowered his eyes and said it was only temporary. He said they would make it comfortable with a nice bed.
I sighed and said it was about respect. This was my house and I was still paying the mortgage.
Phillip said he was trying to provide for his family. He said the promotion was their chance to make things right.
I asked how long that would take. I asked when he would do something for himself instead of just indulging Melinda.
He fell silent. I told him to talk to Melinda.
The next morning I woke to the sound of furniture being moved. I asked what was going on.
Melinda said they were getting ready to rearrange. Phillip avoided my gaze.
I said I had not given my consent. Melinda snapped that there was no time because she needed to start work on Monday.
I told them not to touch anything in my room. I went back to my room and felt strangely liberated.
By evening I still had not made a final decision. Skyler brought me some tea and said it was not fair.
She said they could not force me into the storage room. I said I had led them to believe I would give in.
Skyler