Matthew had always supported his sons financially—through tuition, rent, and countless expenses—believing that once they became adults, they’d stand on their own. But the requests never stopped. What started as parental support slowly turned into dependence, and Matthew began to feel less like a father and more like a bottomless ATM.

The breaking point came on his son’s birthday. Instead of thanking him for years of support, his son asked for a car. Something inside Matthew snapped. “I’m sick of being your free ATM. Stop relying on me,” he told him. He expected an argument, maybe some anger—but instead, his son looked at him coldly and said, “You’ll regret it.”

The next morning, Matthew found his son’s room empty. All his clothes were gone; he had packed up and left without saying a word. The house was silent, and that silence was louder than any fight. Matthew sat alone, torn between guilt and conviction.

On one hand, he knew his children needed to grow up and take responsibility. On the other, he worried he’d pushed too hard and driven his son away. He wasn’t sure if his words were tough love or a mistake—but more than anything, he hoped it wasn’t too late to repair their relationship before the distance between them became permanent.