“I didn’t think it would matter! I thought I’d make the money back and pay everyone off before anyone noticed!”
“But you didn’t.”
“The investments tanked. Everything’s gone. And now the lenders are threatening to sue. To come after my co-signer.”
“Which is supposed to be me. Except I never co-signed anything.”
“I know. That’s the problem. If they investigate and find out I forged your consent, I could go to prison.”
I sat back. Processing. My brother—the Golden Child—had committed identity theft and fraud. Using my name. My reputation. My financial standing.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I need you to actually co-sign. Retroactively. Make it legitimate. Then help me pay off the debt so no one investigates.”
“You want me to legitimize your fraud and then pay $180,000 to cover your mistakes?”
“You’re the only one who can! You make good money. You could get a loan. Pay it off over time. I’ll pay you back, I swear—”
“No.”
“Natalie, please! I’m begging you! If this goes to court, I’ll go to prison! My life will be ruined!”
“You ruined your own life. By committing fraud. Using my identity. Making promises you couldn’t keep.”
“But you’re my sister! You’re supposed to help me!”
“Like you helped me when Mom called me a disappointment? When you laughed? When you all expected me to just take it?”
Brandon went pale. “That was… Mom was drunk. I shouldn’t have laughed. But this is different. This is serious.”
“It’s different because now YOU need help. When I needed support, you all dismissed me. Now you expect me to save you?”
“What do you want me to do, Natalie? Just let me go to prison?”
“I want you to face consequences. For once in your life. Instead of expecting someone else to fix your problems.”
“So you’re just going to walk away? Let me lose everything?”
“You already lost everything. Through your own choices. I’m just not going to lose everything trying to save you.”
I stood up. Brandon grabbed my arm. “Natalie, please. I’m sorry. For everything. For Easter. For laughing. For taking you for granted. I’m sorry.”
“I believe you’re sorry. Sorry you got caught. Sorry you need help you can’t get. But not sorry enough to have treated me with respect when it mattered.”
“If I go to prison, it’ll destroy Mom and Dad.”
“Then maybe you should have thought about that before committing fraud.”
I left. Brandon calling after me. Begging. Crying.
I didn’t look back. Just like I hadn’t looked back when I left Easter dinner.
Two weeks later, my mother called. From a number I hadn’t blocked yet.
“Natalie, we need to talk. About Brandon.”
“No, we don’t.”
“He’s in serious trouble. He needs your help.”
“I know. He told me. And I said no.”
“How can you be so cruel? He’s your brother!”
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