At a table laden with meat and seafood, my mother-in-law was the only person who left me with an empty plate: “We’ve run out of food for you.”

Theresa’s mortgage: $3,200 a month. Utilities and upkeep: about $1,000. Daniel’s constantly maxed-out credit card: anywhere from $1,800 to $2,500 every month.

When Theresa needed unexpected surgery, I paid the hospital bill. When Aaron lost his job, I covered two months of his car payments. I did it because Daniel always repeated the same line: “We’re family, Mari. Someday, they’d do the same for us.”

Staring at that empty porcelain plate, I finally understood they never would.

I looked at the plate, then at Daniel. I