Asking my parents for help wasn’t an option. They’ve always prioritized my younger half-sister, Ashley, and our foster siblings, Natasha and Everett. It’s been five years of feeling invisible, but I’ve learned to cope. But, yesterday, my life changed forever. We were having one of those rare family dinners with my grandparents. Just as we were digging into Grandma’s famous lasagna, my phone buzzed. The courier was here with my mattress. “Excuse me,” I mumbled, pushing my chair back.“What now?” Mom huffed, clearly annoyed by the interruption. I ignored her and went outside to meet the delivery guy. The sight of the mattress made my back feel better already. I tipped the guy, thanked him, and wrestled the thing into the hallway. When I got back to the dining room, the tension hit me like a wall. Mom stood there, arms crossed, her face a mix of annoyance and something I couldn’t quite place.An annoyed woman standing with her arms crossedWhat the hell, Jason? You know we’re all saving money for Ashley’s car. Return that mattress immediately!” Mom’s voice was sharp, cutting through the awkward silence. Ashley, sitting pretty at the table, chimed in with her signature whine, “Why does he get a mattress when I need a car?” I took a deep breath. I’d been waiting for this. “Mom, I bought this with my own money. I’ve been saving for months. I need this bed for my back.” Mom’s eyes narrowed.“That money should be going towards something the whole family needs. Ashley’s car is a priority.” I could feel my frustration bubbling up. “A priority for who? For you and Ashley? I’ve been working hard to afford this. My back is killing me, and I need a decent bed.” Ashley’s pouty face twisted into a scowl. “You’re so selfish, Jason! I can’t believe you’re doing this right now!”Before I could respond, Granddad cleared his throat. The room fell silent. He’d been watching the whole exchange quietly, his face growing darker by the second. “Michelle,” he said, his voice steady and calm, but with an edge that made everyone listen. “We know parenting is hard, but what I’m seeing here is beyond that. Jason’s been working hard and needs this bed. What’s more, your behavior is unacceptable.” The sting of betrayal was sharp. My own parents undermined me in front of everyone, making me look like a monster. It was like they didn’t understand the pressure I was under, trying to balance everything for Ashley and the foster kids. Mom’s face turned beet red. “Dad, you don’t understand. We’ve been trying to save for Ashley’s car for months.”Granddad didn’t budge. “Michelle, we were going to gift you an apartment as a reward for all you do. But after seeing how you treat Jason, we’ve changed our minds.” He looked me in the eye and gave a curt nod. “We’re giving you the apartment instead, Jason.” I was shocked speechless. “Dad, you can’t be serious!” Mom snapped. “He’s just a kid. He doesn’t need an apartment.” Grandma, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. “He needs a place where he can feel valued and not constantly overlooked. You’ve been neglecting Jason for far too long.”I couldn’t believe it. For once, someone was standing up for me! I looked over at Ashley, who was pouting at the table. She opened her mouth to say something but then thought better of it. Even she seemed to realize this was bigger than just a car. Granddad handed me a set of keys. “Jason, this apartment is yours. It’s fully furnished, and we’ve stocked the fridge. You deserve this, son. You’ve worked hard and you need a place where you can focus on your well-being.”I took the keys, my hands trembling. “Thank you, Grandpa. Thank you, Grandma. I don’t even know what to say.” Grandma smiled warmly. “Just make the most of it, Jason. We believe in you.” The next few hours were a blur. My parents tried to argue more, but it was pointless. Granddad and Grandma were firm in their decision. They helped me pack my things, while Mom stood there, still trying to process everything.“This is insane!” she finally shouted. “How are we supposed to explain this to Ashley?” Granddad’s voice was calm but firm. “Maybe start by explaining why you’ve neglected your own son for years.” The words hung in the air, heavy and painful. Even Natasha and Everett, the foster kids, were watching with wide eyes. They didn’t say anything, but I could see the realization dawning on their faces too. The drive to my new apartment was surreal.It wasn’t far, but it felt like a whole new world. The apartment was small but cozy, and it felt like a palace compared to what I was used to. For the first time in years, I felt seen and appreciated. News of what happened spread quickly through the family. Calls and texts flooded in, mostly shaming my parents for their neglect. The extended family couldn’t believe how I’d been treated all these years. Those words cut deeper than any family critique. My own foster kids were afraid they’d end up like Jason, neglected and invisible. A wave of guilt crashed over me. How had I not seen it? The difference in treatment was so stark, so glaring, and yet I’d been blind to it. As I settled into my new place, my grandparents visited often, making sure I had everything I needed. It was strange but wonderful, having this new support system.Grandma often brought over homemade meals and sat with me, talking about everything and nothing. “Jason, we’re so proud of you,” she said one evening. “You’ve been through so much, but you’ve handled it with such grace.” I nodded, feeling a lump in my throat. “I couldn’t have done it without you and Grandpa. You’ve given me a chance to start over.” And that was the truth. For the first time in a long time, I felt hopeful about the future. I had my own space, my own life, and most importantly, I had people who believed in me.Michelle’s Perspective: Hoping for Forgiveness How had everything gone so wrong? One minute we were having a family dinner, and the next, my parents were giving Jason an apartment. The sting of betrayal was sharp. My own parents undermined me in front of everyone, making me look like a monster. It was like they didn’t understand the pressure I was under, trying to balance everything for Ashley and the foster kids. But as the days went by, the backlash from the extended family was even worse. They called, texted, and visited, all with the same message: how could you treat Jason like that?I felt like the world was closing in on me. They didn’t understand how hard it was to juggle everything, to keep everyone happy. But then again, maybe I didn’t either. Maybe I was so focused on keeping things afloat that I forgot to see the iceberg right in front of me. The real blow came from Natasha and Everett. One evening, I overheard them talking. “Do you think we’ll get treated like Jason when we’re older?” Everett asked, his voice small and scared.Natasha shrugged, but her eyes were troubled. “I hope not. It’s not fair how they treat him.” Those words cut deeper than any family critique. My own foster kids were afraid they’d end up like Jason, neglected and invisible. A wave of guilt crashed over me. How had I not seen it? The difference in treatment was so stark, so glaring, and yet I’d been blind to it. I knew I had to make things right. The next day, I went to Jason’s new apartment, carrying a homemade pie as a peace offering.He opened the door, looking wary. “Jason, can we talk?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “I brought pie.” He stepped aside, letting me in. The apartment was small but cozy, just as my parents had described. It felt like a punch to the gut, seeing how settled he already was. “I wanted to apologize,” I began, setting the pie on the kitchen counter. “I’ve been so focused on everything else that I didn’t see how much you were struggling.”Jason crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. “It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?” “I know,” I said, my throat tightening. “But I want to make it right.” He sighed, looking away. “I appreciate the effort, Mom, but I need time. I need space.” Weeks turned into months, and my parents continued to visit Jason. Each time I saw them, it was a reminder of how I had failed. They never rubbed it in, but their actions spoke volumes. They were doing what I should have done all along.The more I saw Jason thriving, the more introspective I became. I began to see the depth of my mistakes and started making changes, small at first. I spent more quality time with Natasha and Everett and urged Ashley to get a part-time job to help pay for her car. Gradually, the dynamics in our home shifted, becoming more balanced. I still visited Jason, bringing little things to show I was thinking of him. Sometimes he let me in, sometimes he didn’t. But I kept trying, kept hoping.One day, as I was leaving his apartment, he said, “Thanks for the pie, Mom. It was good.” It wasn’t much, but it was a start. As I drove home, I allowed myself to hope. Maybe one day, he’d forgive me. Maybe one day, we could rebuild our relationship. Until then, all I could do was keep trying, keep showing him that I’d changed, and that I was there for him, no matter what.