Everyone in My Family Had AC Except Me-So I Walked Away Chapter 01

Everyone in My Family Had AC Except Me-So I Walked Away Chapter 01

Mom and Dad said the old wiring could not handle too many high-wattage appliances, so the house could only support three AC units.

My older brother, Jordan, was bringing his girlfriend home to stay, so naturally, the first unit went into his bedroom. My younger sister, Lily, had never been able to stand the heat, so of course she needed one too. The last unit went into our parents’ bedroom. I said nothing.

I simply kept using the old fan that made a piercing grinding sound whenever it turned, enduring twenty-two sweltering summers in that humid little town.

For years, I believed my family would eventually notice how I felt. Then one day, I borrowed Lily’s air-conditioned bedroom for the final online interview with a major biotech company.

Just as the interview reached its most critical point, the door was pushed open again and again.

Jordan’s shouts from his video game echoed through the living room, and Mom poked her head inside for the fourth time.

“You’re still not done? Hurry up. You still need to go grocery shopping tonight, and Lily wants grilled salmon.”

The hiring manager on the screen frowned. “I’m sorry, but we’re looking for a candidate who takes this opportunity more seriously.”

The moment the screen went dark, I sat frozen in the chair as if someone had ripped the soul straight out of my body.

Mom’s voice continued from the hallway. “If you’re done, then go. Wait any longer and there won’t be any fresh fish left.”

At that moment, everything finally became clear.

“I’m done with this goddamn house. I won’t stay here another day.”

…

At dinner, the whole family sat around the table, completely absorbed in gossip. No one asked how my interview had gone, and no one noticed that I kept my head lowered while tears fell silently into my plate. Halfway through the meal, Jordan dropped his fork in irritation.

“It’s too hot. I can’t eat without AC.”

He pushed back his chair, ready to return to his room.

Mom immediately stopped him. “You can’t skip dinner. Take your plate to your room and eat with the AC on.”

She paused before adding, “This summer is much hotter than usual. I’ll call the installation company tomorrow and have another unit put in the living room.”

Jordan immediately smiled, and Lily clapped her hands in delight. I was the only one who remained still.

I thought back to what Mom and Dad had said while standing outside my tiny bedroom eighteen years ago. “The wiring in this house is too old to handle any more appliances, so we can’t install an AC unit in your room.”

I did not question them.

I sniffed quietly and said, “I didn’t pass the interview. They said it was too noisy here and that I wasn’t taking the opportunity seriously.”

Mom placed another piece of grilled salmon on Lily’s plate and answered without looking at me. “Oh.”

Unable to hold it in, I continued, “But didn’t I remind all of you several times before the interview not to come into the room and to keep the noise down?”

My father, Robert, set down his knife and looked up at me. “Are you blaming your mother? This is our house. Does she need your permission before entering a room?” His voice was ice-cold. “Failing the interview only proves you weren’t qualified enough. That excuse about your attitude was probably just their polite way of rejecting you.”

I tightened my grip on my fork. I wanted to argue, but no words would come out. The table fell silent for several seconds.

My mother, Helen, finally spoke. “So you failed. It’s not the end of the world. I’ve already asked a friend to look into a teacher’s aide position for you at a private elementary school nearby. That kind of job is perfect for a young woman. It’s safe, steady, and you get plenty of time off. Once Jordan has children, you can help take care of them too.”

“But I don’t want to be a teacher’s aide…”

Before I could finish, Mom had already turned toward Lily.

“Sweetheart, now that you’ve been accepted to the state university nearby, we really should increase your allowance.”

She smiled warmly. “Starting next month, we’ll give you an extra two hundred dollars a month.”

Lily threw her arms around Mom and kissed her on the cheek. Any appetite I had left disappeared. During my four years of college, I had received only three hundred dollars a month, and that amount had never increased once. The previous week, the biotech company had invited me to its headquarters for an in-person final interview. The round-trip airfare and hotel would cost more than I had, so I had asked Mom for help.

She said the family had too many expenses lately and told me to request an online interview instead. It was not that she could not afford it. She simply did not want to spend the money on me. I stood up and turned to go back to my room. I had only taken two steps when Mom called my name. I stopped and, against my better judgment, found myself hoping once again that she might finally care about how I felt. Instead, she merely pointed at the dining table.

“Erin, wash the dishes and the pots.”

At that moment, the last bit of hope I had for them vanished completely. My throat tightened, but I still forced out one word.

“Okay.”

After washing the dishes, I carried the trash outside and threw it into the bin by the road. Then I took out my phone and dialed a number.

“Hello. Is the position at the biotech research institute still available? I’d like to accept the offer.”

The person on the other end paused. “Didn’t you say you were reluctant to move so far from home and couldn’t accept the long-term residency or confidentiality requirements?”

“I’ve thought it through. I want a job that truly suits me more than I want to keep coming home.”

The person on the other end gave a pleased laugh. “Welcome aboard. Send me your identification documents later, and I’ll arrange your flight. The project has unusual confidentiality requirements, so employees can only leave the campus once a year for an extended vacation. Make sure you’re prepared for that.”

The sun beat down on my head, and the heat distorted everything in the distance. I could not tell whether the heat was making me dizzy or whether the thought of finally leaving had made me lightheaded with relief.

After hesitating for a moment, I asked, “Do the staff apartments at the institute have air conditioning?”

“Of course,” they replied immediately. “The apartments come fully furnished, and every appliance is brand-new.”

I nodded hard, even though they could not see me. When I returned home, I closed my bedroom door and gently ran my hand over the old fan that had stayed with me for twenty-two years.

“Once I’m gone, you won’t have to work so hard anymore.”