The text arrived while I was folding the laundry. “Hey sweetie, just a heads up—Christmas is going to be simple this year. Money’s tight, so we won’t be doing big gifts. Just the essentials.”
I stared at the message, my fingers tightening around the fabric in my hands.
I wasn’t surprised. My parents had always been practical about Christmas. They never splurged, never went overboard. But this year, something about the message felt… off. It wasn’t just that they were cutting back. It was the finality of it. Like a decision had already been made—without me.
Still, I forced a smile and replied, “Of course, no worries. The kids will understand.”
Because what else could I say?
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