For nearly a year, I worked remotely from the dining room table in my brother’s house. I kept telling myself it was only temporary.
My brother Marco insisted it would be “easier” after I moved back to the city following a difficult breakup. His wife, my sister-in-law Daria, smiled warmly and said, “Family helps family.”
At first, everything seemed completely normal and reasonable.
Trying to Be a Good Guest
I paid for groceries whenever I went shopping. I bought my own toiletries and personal items.
I even gave Marco money for utilities when I could spare it. My remote job paid well, but I was recovering financially from a difficult breakup.
I wanted to save money for a place of my own. Living with family temporarily seemed like a smart way to rebuild.
Then I started noticing a troubling pattern in my bank account.
Every single month, right after my paycheck hit my account, exactly $1,300 would disappear. The first time it happened, I assumed it was a banking error.
The second time, I blamed myself for forgetting some payment I’d set up. By the third month, my stomach tightened with anxiety every time payday arrived.
