Every time that uneasy feeling crept in, I’d push it aside. Family is family, right? But after the fifth year of funding everyone’s vacation without so much as a thank you, the feeling of being taken for granted started to burn.

I finally snapped one day when I received a text from my mom. I’d just returned from a grueling work trip and was exhausted. My phone buzzed.

“Hey sweetie! We’re planning our next trip. Just wanted to let you know it’s going to be another expensive one, but don’t worry, your dad and I already talked and we’ve got it covered.”

Something felt off. They had it “covered,” yet I was always the one handing over the cash. Later that afternoon, I got a group message from my dad. It was the usual family chat, planning the vacation. But this time, the conversation took a turn I couldn’t ignore. My uncle, who’s notorious for being blunt, casually typed:

“Ella won’t mind paying for this one either. She’s always been our cash cow, haha.”