“Mom Called to Say Relatives Were Coming Over”: I Said No and Hung Up. Honestly, I’ve Never Done That Before

Growing up in a small rural town in the Midwest, Ellie had always felt out of place. The endless fields, the overpowering silence of the night, and the constant chores associated with farm life were suffocating to her. Her spirit yearned for something more, something vibrant that only a city could offer. So, the day she moved to Chicago was, without a doubt, the happiest day of her life.

Ellie had been living in Chicago for about five years now. She had a modest apartment on the north side and a job at a bustling marketing firm downtown. The noise, the crowds, the endless sea of concrete and glass thrilled her. She loved how the city was alive at all hours, how she could find a coffee shop open at 2 AM or a bookstore just around the corner where she could lose herself in novels about far-off places.

Her family, however, couldn’t understand her new life. Her mother, Ruby, especially found it difficult. Ruby loved the countryside, with its sprawling landscapes and community gatherings. She often expressed her worries about Ellie living alone in such a “hectic and cold” environment.

One day, Ellie’s phone rang while she was in the middle of a project at work. It was her mother.

“Ellie, dear, I just wanted to tell you that your Uncle Kenneth and Aunt Serenity are planning to drive up to see you this weekend,” Ruby said, her voice filled with excitement.

Ellie felt a pang of annoyance. She hadn’t seen Kenneth or Serenity in years. They were nice enough, but they always treated her like a little girl, asking when she would move back home or start a ‘real’ family. Ellie had plans this weekend, too — a new art exhibit she wanted to see and a date with a guy she had recently met at a local jazz club.

“Mom, I can’t this weekend. I have plans,” Ellie responded, trying to keep her voice steady.

“But they’re family, Ellie. They’ve missed you,” Ruby pressed.

“I know, Mom, but I really can’t. Maybe another time,” Ellie said, feeling a mix of guilt and frustration.

There was a pause on the line. “I see. Okay, dear. I’ll let them know.”

Ellie hung up the phone and tried to refocus on her work, but her mother’s disappointed tone haunted her. She loved her family, but she also loved her life in the city. It was a life she had chosen, a life that made her happy, even if her family couldn’t understand it.

The weekend came, and Ellie went to the art exhibit alone. The paintings were beautiful, yet she couldn’t shake off a feeling of loneliness. At the jazz club, the guy she was supposed to meet texted at the last minute to cancel. She spent the evening listening to music, surrounded by couples and groups of friends, feeling more isolated than ever.

As she walked home, the city felt colder, less welcoming. The skyscrapers seemed to loom over her, and the sounds of traffic were harsher than usual. For the first time since she had moved, Ellie wondered if she had made the right choice. Maybe her mother was right. Maybe she did need her family more than she admitted.

But as she reached her apartment, she realized that this was still her path. It might be lonely, it might be hard, but it was hers. Ellie knew she would face more nights like this, filled with doubt and solitude. But she also knew there would be days filled with joy and triumph. That’s just the way life in the city was — unpredictable, challenging, but ultimately rewarding.