I rarely went home during my four years in college.
The trip was expensive, and staying to work during school breaks meant I could earn more.
My first Christmas, I stayed near campus and worked a shift at a convenience store.
At 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve, my mother sent me a message.
Mom: Your dad's back is acting up. Send us $500.
I sent the money without asking how they knew I had it.
The following year, a relative told me that my mother was having surgery.
I took two days off, went home, and paid a $3,000 hospital bill.
Eden sat in the hospital room scrolling on her phone. When she saw me, she said, "Well, look at you. Doing pretty well for yourself, huh?"
At the time, I lived on less than $800 a month.
I'd spent years working part-time to save that $3,000.
On graduation day,
