I’m Kana, 33. I divorced Kota a year ago, and now it’s just me and our six-year-old son, Yusuke. You’d think that in times like these, your parents would be there to help, right? But my father—maybe because he liked Kota—told me not to rely on my family home. Even though I can’t work overtime, my savings keep shrinking. Out of pride, I haven’t asked my parents for help or requested more child support from Kota. But despite how hard I’m trying, Yusuke calls me stingy!
Maybe Kota never told his parents about me, because they didn’t blame me at all. Instead, they welcomed me warmly and said, “Let’s eat together.” Why didn’t I realize sooner how kind his parents—and Kota—really were? Living frugally, just like the in-laws I once looked down on, made me finally understand how they felt—and how awful the things I said to Kota truly were.
I spent years looking down on others, only to realize the foolish one was me. And by the time I understood that, it was already too late.