I never saved for my niece’s college fund because someone asked me to. No one knew, no promises were made — just quiet deposits over the years. Phoebe meant something to me. She still does.

She’s 17 now — sweet, smart, a little shy. Prom night was magical. Audrey, my sister, invited me over, said Phoebe’s absent dad had paid for everything. I believed her… until Phoebe gave a speech and thanked me for funding the night.

That’s when it hit me: Audrey used the college fund. I checked — $7,000 gone. When I confronted her, she admitted it and said it was “worth it” for Phoebe’s once-in-a-lifetime night. She didn’t apologize — just asked for more money days later. I said no.

Then Phoebe came to my porch. She didn’t know. She apologized. She started looking for summer jobs to repay the money. My heart broke. I told her: keep the job for experience, I’ll rebuild the fund. But from now on, her mom’s out of it. That’s the only way it works.