Stolen Prize Money
When I found out I'd won an $80,000 European vacation for two as a graduation prize, my Aunt Janice showed up at my house with my cousin, Kelsey Whitmore, who had always loved taking advantage of other people.
"Elise, your dad's in poor health and can't fly. Why don't you give the trip to Kelsey and her husband? You'd probably get lost traveling on your own anyway. We won't take it for free. We'll give you a nice cash gift."
Kelsey and her husband, Travis Connelly, had just gotten married and couldn't afford a honeymoon.
My hands shook with absolute fury as I crumpled that meager 200 bucks in my fist.
An $80,000 prize, and she expected to take all of it with a few casual words?
I smiled, pushed the cash back toward her, and shook my head.
"No, Aunt Janice. If my dad can't go, I can cash in the prize instead. Besides, Travis makes over $30,000 a month. Surely he can afford honeymoon tickets."
Aunt Janice and Kelsey left with dark expressions.
Half an hour later, Kelsey flooded the family group chat with celebration emojis.
"Ticket redeemed! Thanks for the generous gift, Elise. I'll enjoy this luxury European honeymoon on your behalf."
Aunt Janice tagged both my father and me. "Elise is such a thoughtful girl. She gave her European vacation to Kelsey."
I was about to expose the lie when I heard my father talking on the phone in the next room.
"That's right. Transfer the reservation to Kelsey. Elise and I both have a fever, so we can't go..."
My heart went cold.
While I was in the shower, my father had gone through my phone and stolen the redemption code.
If he was willing to sacrifice his own life just to please his relatives, then I was done trying to save it.