Part 3A Room of My Own

"Emma, you are our most precious baby."

"Yes, we'll go put a down payment on a new house tomorrow."

I didn't explain. If I could really get my own room out of this, I'd let them misunderstand just this once.

Aside from the room issue, they truly were impeccable parents in every other aspect.

My parents took me out for another meal.

It was a spicy hot pot place I loved.

Neither of my parents could handle spice, but they watched me eat with gentle smiles.

One poured my drink, the other wiped my mouth.

We looked like the most loving family of three, and I was the absolute center of it.

A group of girls at the next table looked at me with envy.

At that moment, I was basking in my parents' total, undivided love for their only daughter.

Filled with a hard-won sense of satisfaction and a bit of competitiveness, I finally replied to Brittany:

[My parents decided to buy a new house. Keep envying me.]

Brittany didn't reply for a long time.

I thought I had won, and that she was ashamed of what she had said.

I even regretted being so impulsive today and making my parents lose face.

They clearly were already planning to buy a house; it wasn't like they never considered me.

Grandma was picked up by my uncle that night, but her clothes and daily necessities were still there.

I knew she would continue living with us.

But that was fine. I could endure it a little longer. After all, I had endured it for years, and dawn was just around the corner.

I imagined myself in my little room for the first time.

Binge-watching shows, drinking cola, and laughing out loud without a care in the world.

I could throw my trash wherever I wanted, knowing I'd just clean it up the next morning.

I could wear a tank top and prop my feet up on the desk without worrying about exposing myself.

I could dig out the love notes from high school boys hidden at the bottom of my drawer and read them out loud without fear.

When we went house hunting the next day, I was even more excited than my parents.

They found a gated community that was perfect for retirement. It had great amenities and a quiet environment.

But because it was a new development with reasonable prices and a great location, properties were selling out fast.

By the time we looked, there were only a few three-bedroom and two-bedroom units left.

There was one three-bedroom unit on a lower floor. The rooms were spacious.

The only downside was the layout, which meant the natural light wasn't great.

I carefully watched my parents' faces.

When I saw no obvious signs of dissatisfaction, I let out a sigh of relief.

I happily spun around in the smallest bedroom.

I imagined my bed here, a large clothing rack for my favorite dresses, without having to worry about Grandma's clothes mixing in and making it look out of place.

I could display my collectibles on the shelves without worrying that Grandma's failing eyesight would knock them over.

The real estate agent held the contract:

"Look how much she loves it! You guys should lock it down now."

My parents exchanged a glance and waved their hands.

"We left in a hurry this morning and forgot our checkbook. We'll come back to sign this afternoon."