Ksenia stared at the numbers on the computer screen for the third time, almost as if they might change. The bonus was even bigger than she expected. Two years of hard work at a state corporation, countless negotiations, and endless nights spent going over documents — and here it was. The biggest deal of the year, all thanks to her effort.
“Ksyusha, how are you?” her colleague Marina peeked into the office. “You look a bit… off.”
“They credited the bonus,” Ksenia responded quietly, still fixated on the screen.
“And what, was it small?”
“It’s big. Very big.”
Marina whistled when she saw the amount.
“Wow! Congratulations! Now you can afford everything you’ve been dreaming of.”
Dreaming of… Ksenia opened a browser tab with photos of the Maldives. She’d been admiring these pictures for years — the pristine sand, turquoise waters, huts on stilts over the ocean. How many evenings had she spent scrolling through travel bloggers’ posts, imagining herself there?
“The Maldives?” Marina guessed. “You’ve definitely earned it! If I were you, I’d also consider renting my own place. How old are you now, twenty-seven? It might be time to live separately.”
Ksenia nodded. Yes, she had been thinking about that too. Living with her mother and older sister Lena was becoming increasingly difficult. Especially since Lena, at thirty, had yet to find a steady job, but always seemed to have reasons for why that wasn’t her fault.
Ksenia returned home in a good mood. Her mother was in the kitchen, washing dishes in her usual checkered apron.
“Mom, I have some great news!” Ksenia began, grabbing a yogurt from the fridge.
“What’s the news?” her mother asked, turning and drying her hands.
“They credited my bonus. A big one, for the deal I closed.”
Her mother’s eyes lit up.
“Ksyusha, you’re amazing! How much is it?”
Ksenia told her the amount, and her mother immediately sat down.
“Oh my goodness… That’s a lot!” She paused, and then her face lit up with an idea. “You know what? Let’s give some of that bonus to your sister for her 30th birthday! She’ll be so happy!”
Ksenia nearly choked on her yogurt.
“What?”
“Think about it. Thirty is a big milestone, an important one. Lena would really appreciate this. She could use the money for a trip abroad or something special.”
“Mom, are you serious?” Ksenia slowly put the cup down.
“Why not? The money stays in the family, and Lena is your older sister. Plus, you’re doing well financially — you’ll earn even more in the future.”
At that moment, Lena entered, cheerful after a walk with friends.
“What’s going on here?” she asked, taking off her jacket.
“Ksyusha got a huge bonus!” Mom said. “And we were thinking of giving some of it to you for your birthday.”
“We’re not thinking about it,” Ksenia said firmly. “That’s Mom’s idea.”
Lena raised an eyebrow.
“Really? How much is the bonus?” she asked.
Mom proudly named the amount. Lena gasped, much like Marina did earlier.
“Ksyusha, what are you doing?” she asked, sitting next to her sister. “This would be the perfect gift for my 30th. I’ve never been on a trip. And you’re young, you have plenty of time to do whatever you want.”
“I have plenty of time?” Ksenia felt a rush of frustration. “Lena, I’m 27! I studied for four years, interned for two years with almost no pay, then worked hard for another two years to get this position. I earned this money myself!”
“Ksenia, don’t raise your voice at your sister,” Mom scolded her.
“Why can she raise her voice at me? Why is it okay for her to demand money I worked for?”
Lena crossed her arms.
“I didn’t raise my voice. I just said this would be a great gift for my 30th. You know how tough it is to find a good job these days.”
“Really tough?” Ksenia stood up. “How many interviews did you go to last year? Three? Four?”
“Ksenia!” Mom raised her voice. “How are you speaking to your sister? Lena is looking for a job in her field, not just grabbing at anything.”
“Mom, I’m working in my field too. And I looked for a job for two years. I went to interviews every week. I was turned down so many times before I finally got this position.”
“So what now?” Lena intervened. “You got your job and your bonus. Don’t you feel any sympathy for your sister?”
“Feel sympathy?” Ksenia’s voice grew louder. “Lena, I feel sympathy every month! Who pays for the internet? Who buys groceries? Who pays the bills? Mom and I! And what do you do?”
“I’m looking for a job!” Lena responded.
“You’re hanging out with friends! You’re on your phone! You sleep until noon!”
“Girls, stop it!” Mom stood between them. “Ksenia, Lena is right. It’s really hard to find a job right now. And you got such a big bonus… Are you really not willing to share it with the family?”
“Not willing?” Ksenia felt tears well up. “Mom, I planned to use that money for a trip to the Maldives. I’ve been dreaming of that trip since university. And then I wanted to rent my own place and finally live on my own.”
“The Maldives?” Lena snorted. “Ksyusha, seriously? Spending that much money on two weeks of beach time?”
“It’s not wasting it! It’s my dream!”
“My dream is to go to Sochi,” Lena replied. “And I’m almost 30. If not now, when?”
“When you earn it yourself!”
Mom sighed deeply.
“Ksenia, I don’t recognize you anymore. You’ve become so harsh, so selfish. Has your success changed you that much?”
“Selfish?” Ksenia felt something inside snap. “Mom, am I selfish? I’ve been living here for two years, paying for everything. I buy your medicine. I give you presents for every holiday. And when I want to spend my own money on myself, I’m selfish?”
“You’re exaggerating,” Mom said. “We all contribute to this family.”
“What contribution does Lena make?” Ksenia shot back.
“Lena helps around the house,” Mom responded.
“Helps?” Ksenia laughed bitterly. “Mom, when was the last time you saw Lena mop the floor? Or clean the bathroom? Or take out the trash without being reminded?”
“Lena has depression because of unemployment,” Mom said softly. “It’s hard for her.”
“Is it easy for me?” Ksenia shouted. “Do you think it’s easy for me to work twelve hours a day? Do you think it’s easy for me to come home and see you planning what to do with my money?”
Lena stood up, her voice quiet but firm.
“You know what, Ksyusha? If you’re going to treat the family like this, don’t give anything. I’ll manage on my own.”
“Lena, don’t say that,” Mom said, placing a hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “Ksyusha is just tired. She’ll understand and share.”
“No, I won’t understand or share!” Ksenia shouted. “I earned this money! I’m going to spend it on what I need!”
Mom gave her a long, hard look.
“Alright, Ksenia. If you don’t want to help your sister voluntarily, I’ll make you.”
“How?”
“You’ll pay a lot more for the apartment. Lena doesn’t work, and I’m retired. If you’re so independent, then pay for everything yourself.”
“Mom…”
“Either share the bonus with your sister, or pay for everything. It’s your choice.”
Ksenia stood in the middle of the kitchen, feeling as if her world was falling apart. The family she had supported, helped, and loved was now giving her an ultimatum. Either give up the money or become the family’s financial support forever.
“I see,” she said quietly. “Everything is clear.”
She turned and went to her room. Behind her, she heard her mother saying to Lena:
“Don’t worry, she’ll come around. She just needs some time.”
Ksenia shut the door behind her, picked up her phone, and dialed Marina’s number.
“Marish, can I talk to you?”
“Of course! What’s going on? You sound upset.”
Ksenia explained everything to her friend, who listened intently.
“Ksyush,” Marina said finally, “do you realize what’s happening? This is pure manipulation. They’re making you feel guilty about your own success.”
“But… it’s family,” Ksenia said hesitantly.
“So what? Just because someone is family doesn’t mean they have the right to take advantage of you. Are you a servant, working to support a healthy, adult sister?” Marina asked.
Ksenia paused, taking in her friend’s words.
“You know what,” Marina continued, “come stay with
me for a while. Go on that trip to the Maldives. Don’t let them control you.”
After a long pause, Ksenia said, “I think I will. I’m going to think about what I really want.”
Marina smiled. “That’s the spirit. You deserve to live for yourself.”
