When Kayla’s dad left on a two-week work trip, he assured her that his new wife, Marcy, would handle things—including giving her lunch money. But when Kayla asked, Marcy coldly replied, “You’re sixteen. Not my problem.”That one sentence kicked off a quiet war in the household—and Kayla was done playing nice.
Kayla had been cooking for herself since she was 11, after her mom fell ill and eventually passed away. Preparing meals became her comfort, her escape. Her dad tried to help—sometimes leaving lunch money with a note—but for the most part, Kayla learned to manage alone.