I sold my late mother’s gold earrings to help my brother with his daughter’s medical treatment. I transferred him a large sum of money and was sure I was doing the right thing. But a month later, as I was scrolling through social media, I saw his photo and froze…

My mother passed away two years ago. She left behind an apartment and jewelry. We sold the apartment and divided the proceeds. The gold earrings, very expensive, she gave to me while she was still alive. I treasured them.

My brother and I had a normal relationship. Not very close, but without any arguments. He lives in another city with his family. He called sometimes, visited on holidays.

A month ago, he called me late at night. His voice was trembling. His daughter had a health issue, required urgent surgery. Only it was not covered by insurance. He mentioned the amount needed.

I didn’t have that kind of money. But I had the earrings. I told him I would help. He thanked me repeatedly, saying I was saving his child.

The next day, I sold the earrings. I transferred the money to my brother immediately. He wrote that he received it and that they would see the doctor the next day. I felt relieved.

A week later, I called to see how things were going. He answered briefly, saying everything was going according to plan, and they were preparing for surgery. I didn’t push with questions.

Two weeks later, I asked about the surgery. He replied after a day that it had been postponed for a month, the doctors had insisted.

It seemed strange. He had said it was urgent, and now they were postponing. I thought the doctors knew better.

Yesterday, I was scrolling through social media. I stumbled upon his photo. Beach, sea. He and his wife on lounge chairs, cocktails, dinner at a restaurant. The caption read that they were finally relaxing, as they had dreamed.

I looked at those photos. The geolocation indicated an expensive resort. A stay there costs about half of what I had transferred.

I wrote to him, asking where they were. He replied an hour later, saying they decided to take a break before the surgery, and the doctors allowed it.

I asked about the money. He wrote that everything for the surgery was set aside, and these were different funds.

I didn’t believe it. I directly asked where the money I gave went. Silence.

I called, and he didn’t pick up. I called his wife, no response either. I wrote that I wanted to see the bills for the surgery. Silence.

Then I received a long message from him. That I didn’t understand, they also needed to live. A year of stress because of the child, they were exhausted. The surgery would definitely happen, but they had the right to vacation. That I was exaggerating everything. That he would pay back someday.

It became clear that there was no urgent surgery. He took the money and spent it on a vacation. My mother’s earrings went towards his tan and cocktails.

I called the clinic he mentioned. They said they had no such patient, and no surgery was planned.

My brother blocked me everywhere. He doesn’t respond, doesn’t read messages. I lost the last thing left from my mother. And I lost my brother too.

I’m looking at the empty jewelry box where the earrings used to be. I can’t wrap my head around how a close relative did something like this. Deceived me for a resort. I cherished those earrings for two years as a memory of my mother. I thought I was helping my niece to save her life. Instead, I helped him to suntan at my expense.

Can one forgive a relative for this? And should I try to mend relations with someone who deceived me for their own pleasure?

***

My brother called a month ago.
He was crying on the phone.
He said his daughter urgently needed surgery and they didn’t have enough money.
That same day, I sold my late mother’s gold earrings, the only thing I had left from her.
I transferred him a large sum of money and was sure I was doing the right thing.
And a month later, while scrolling through his social media, I saw a photo and froze…
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