Moja siostra sprzedała swój dom, żeby „podróżować po świecie” z rodziną. Kiedy skończyły im się pieniądze, zażądali, żeby się do mnie wprowadzić. Powiedziałem „nie” – a potem wdarli się siłą, kiedy byłem w pracy. Pozwoliłem więc, żeby rzeczywistość zajęła się resztą.

“Kaiser,” she said, irritated. “Why are you making this a thing?”

“Because it is a thing,” I replied. “What’s the income situation?”

Neo’s voice came through faintly on her end, saying something I couldn’t make out.

“It’s uneven,” Mia said. “But it’s getting there.”

“Enough to cover rent somewhere?”

“We’re not trying to sign a lease right now,” she said quickly. “That defeats the point.”

“What about school? The kids aren’t on vacation forever.”

Another pause.

“We’ll figure that out when we get back,” she said.

“And the timeline? When are you coming back?”

“Soon,” she said. “Why does it matter?”

“Because you’re asking to stay in my house,” I said. “Details matter.”

She exhaled sharply.

“You’re acting like we’re asking for something crazy.”

“You are,” I said, calm. “Mia, I’m not having four extra people move into my house.”

“It’s temporary,” she snapped.

“So is food poisoning,” I said.

She laughed, but there was no humor in it.

“You’re really saying no?”

“Yes.”

There was a beat where she seemed to process that.

“You’re serious?”

“Very.”

“So you’re just leaving us to figure it out? With kids?”

“I’m saying you can’t stay at my place,” I replied. “Those aren’t the same thing.”

She didn’t like that distinction.

“I thought family helped each other,” she said.

“They do,” I replied. “In reasonable ways.”

“So what? You just don’t care?”

“I care enough to not pretend this is a good idea,” I said.

She started talking faster.

“We’re not asking to move in forever. We just need somewhere to land. You’re being dramatic.”

I cut in.

“I’m being clear.”

I offered her alternatives once, not because I owed her, but because I wanted the record straight.

“I’ll help you find a short-term rental,” I said. “I can help with a deposit. I’m not offering my house.”

“That’s not the same,” she shot back.

“It’s the only option I’m offering.”

Her irritation turned sharp.

“You’ve always been like this. Everything has to be your way.”

“My house already is my way,” I said. “That’s the point.”

She went quiet for a moment, then said, “I’ll talk to Mom.”

“I figured you would,” I replied.

She hung up without saying goodbye.

The call ended exactly where it started.

No agreement.

No resolution.

Just her assuming the conversation wasn’t over.

From my end, it was.

They came back about a week after that call.

I didn’t hear it from Mia.

I heard it from Lucy.

“They’re home,” she said on the phone, like that alone changed anything. “They’re staying with us for now.”

“For now,” I repeated.

“Yes,” she said. “Until things settle.”

I didn’t comment.

I didn’t need to.

I already knew what was coming.

Two days later, Neo called.

Not a text. Not a heads-up. A call.

Middle of the afternoon, right when I was finishing up work.

“Kaiser,” he said, upbeat like we were catching up. “Got a minute?”

“You already called,” I replied. “Go ahead.”

He jumped straight into it.

“So, look, we talked things over and we really think you’re overthinking this.”

“I’m not thinking about it at all,” I said. “I already said no.”

He laughed lightly.

“Come on, we’re family.”

“That doesn’t change my answer.”

He kept going.

“It’s not like we’re asking to move in permanently. Just a short stay. You’ve got extra rooms.”

“I have rooms,” I said. “I don’t have vacancies.”

There was a pause.

Then his tone shifted, more serious.

“You’re in a good position. We’re just asking you to help us get through a rough patch.”

“You chose the rough patch,” I replied.

“I didn’t.”

“That’s harsh.”

“It’s accurate.”

He tried a different angle.

“The kids would barely be around. We’d be out most of the day.”

“Doing what?” I asked. “You don’t have jobs.”

“The business,” he said quickly. “It’s close. I just need stability.”

“You need a plan,” I said. “Not my house.”

He sighed.

“You’re really digging your heels in.”

“I’m standing still,” I replied. “You’re the one pushing.”

There was a sharp exhale on his end.

“You know this would be easier if you weren’t so rigid.”

“And you know this would be easier if you listened,” I said.

He went quiet, then said, “We’ll talk in person.”

“No,” I replied. “We won’t.”

He hung up.

I figured that was that.

It wasn’t.

Two evenings later, I got home and saw a car parked half across my driveway.

Not blocking it, just close enough to be annoying.

I knew whose it was before I even stepped out.

Mia and Neo were already on my porch.

Mia smiled like this was a social visit. Neo leaned against the railing like he belonged there.

“You didn’t say you were coming by,” I said, unlocking my door.

“We were in the area,” Mia replied. “Thought we’d talk face to face.”

I stepped inside and didn’t invite them in.

Neo took that as a suggestion and stepped forward anyway.

“We just want to clear the air,” he said.

“There’s nothing to clear,” I replied. “I said no.”

Mia waved a hand.

“You always say things like that at first.”

“At first,” I repeated.

She shrugged.

“You warm up once you actually see the situation.”

“I see it,” I said. “You’re not staying here.”

They exchanged a look like I was missing something obvious.

Mia stepped closer.

“Kaiser, don’t do this. We’re already back. The kids are tired. Mom’s place is cramped.”

“That’s not my problem,” I said.

Neo jumped in.

“You’ve got space you’re not even using.”

“I’m using it,” I replied. “By not filling it.”

He frowned.

“That’s selfish.”

I looked at him.

“You sold your house. I didn’t buy a hostel.”

Mia scoffed.

“You think you’re better than us.”

“I think I’m not responsible for your decisions,” I said.

She crossed her arms.

“So you’re really going to turn your back on us?”

“I’m going to close my door,” I replied. “Which I’m doing now.”

Neo’s tone hardened.

“You don’t have to be like this.”

“I do,” I said. “It’s my house.”

Mia’s face changed. The smile dropped.

“You’ve always been like this,” she snapped. “Cold, controlling. You act like you’re above everyone.”

“I act like this place belongs to me,” I said. “Because it does.”

She laughed, sharp and ugly.

“Wow. So this is who you are.”

“This has always been who I am,” I replied. “You just didn’t need anything before.”

Neo stepped forward again, closer this time.

“We’re not leaving until we finish this conversation.”

I met his eyes.

“You finished it when you showed up uninvited.”

Mia raised her voice.

“You can’t just shut us out.”

I didn’t raise mine.

“Watch me.”

She stared at me like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“You’re unbelievable,” she said. “Mom was right about you.”

“I’m sure she was,” I replied.

Neo shook his head.

“This didn’t have to be a fight.”

“It’s not,” I said. “It’s a boundary.”

Mia snapped back.

“You’re an [__].”

“Maybe,” I said. “You’re still not staying here.”

There was a long, tense pause.

Cars passed. A neighbor across the street slowed down just enough to notice.

Mia grabbed Neo’s arm.

“Let’s go. He’s not worth it.”

Neo hesitated, then stepped back.

“We’re not done,” he said.

“We are,” I replied.

They walked back to their car.

Mia slammed the door hard enough to echo down the street.

I went inside and locked mine.

I didn’t feel bad.

I felt confirmed.

They weren’t asking anymore.

They were testing.

And they weren’t done pushing.

I made a note to myself to stop assuming no would be enough.

Mia didn’t waste time after that.

By the next morning, Lucy was on my phone.

“You embarrassed your sister,” she said, not even pretending to open politely.

“I answered my door,” I replied.

“You know exactly what I mean,” Lucy snapped. “They’re struggling and you slammed the door in their faces.”

“I told them no,” I said. “Twice. Showing up doesn’t change it.”

Lucy huffed.

“You’ve got a whole house to yourself. Meanwhile, they’re crammed in here with kids. That’s not right.”

“It’s not my situation to fix,” I said.

She ignored that.

“Family doesn’t lock family out.”

“I locked my door,” I replied. “Not the bloodline.”

David’s voice came faintly through the phone.

“Lucy, maybe—”

She cut him off.

“No. He needs to hear this.”

I let her talk.

“You’ve always been rigid,” she continued. “Everything has to be your way. This house has made you selfish.”

“The house didn’t make me anything,” I said. “It just belongs to me.”

She laughed, sharp and dismissive.

“Don’t start that again. You wouldn’t even notice them being there.”

“I would,” I said. “That’s why I said no.”

She changed tactics.

“You’re going out of town next week, right?”

I paused.

“For work?”

“Yes,” she said, triumphant. “See? You won’t even be home. This wouldn’t affect you at all.”

“It affects me because it’s my house,” I said. “And I’m not discussing this again.”

“You can’t seriously expect me to watch my daughter struggle when you have all that space sitting empty,” she said.

“I expect you not to volunteer my house,” I replied.

She went quiet for a second, then said, “We’ll see.”

The call ended there.

No goodbye.

That afternoon, I went back to work and didn’t think much more about it.

I had deadlines, meetings, normal problems.