Not a financial arrangement.”

I looked at him.

“I’ve been learning that too.”

After my parents left, I reviewed my personal finances.

The forty-thousand-dollar debt remained mine to address.

The agreement didn’t magically erase it.

I arranged a repayment plan using lawful compensation and distributions available under the terms governing my role.

I stopped charging ordinary expenses simply because I wanted to look wealthy.

It was humiliating to admit how irresponsible I’d been.

But I preferred knowing the exact balance to pretending the problem didn’t exist.