My son, Daniel, was my pride and joy. He had a brilliant mind, sharp wit, and the determination to accomplish anything he set out to do. Watching him grow up was the highlight of my life. Even after his mother and I divorced, he chose to live with me, and I did everything I could to give him a stable and loving home.
When he was accepted to Yale, I couldn’t contain my pride. I’d been saving for years in a 529 Plan for his education, and knowing it would go toward helping him achieve his dreams felt like validation for all the sacrifices we had made.
But then, everything fell apart. In November, a drunk driver took Daniel’s life, and with it, my sense of purpose. Planning his funeral, sorting through his things, and trying to make sense of life without him was more than I could bear.
In the midst of this storm, my ex-wife, Laura, showed up at my door. She looked uncomfortable, almost hesitant, but I could tell she had something to say.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” she began, avoiding my eyes. Her words felt hollow. She had been absent for most of Daniel’s life, prioritizing her new husband and stepson over her own child. I nodded, waiting for her to get to the point.
After a few moments of awkward silence, she finally said it.
“I know you have the 529 Plan for Daniel,” she said, her voice casual, as if she were asking for a cup of sugar. “Since… you won’t be using it anymore, I think it would be fair to give it to my stepson, Kyle. Jerry thinks so too.”
I stared at her, completely stunned. “Excuse me?” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
“It makes sense,” she continued, as though she hadn’t just stabbed me in the heart. “Kyle could use that money for college. He’s a good kid, and Jerry and I think it would be a great way to honor Daniel’s memory.”
Anger surged through me, mixing with the overwhelming grief that had already consumed my heart. “Laura,” I said, my voice trembling, “you’ve got to be joking.”
“I’m not,” she replied defensively. “Kyle’s family now, and he deserves the same opportunities Daniel had.”
