I thought I was walking into one of the happiest days of my life. Brandon invited me to his family’s annual “Family Day,” where everyone exchanged lavish gifts — cars, jewelry, even property. I had spent three months saving to buy him the PlayStation 5 he always wanted, proud to finally give him something meaningful.

When it was my turn to receive a gift, Brandon handed me a tiny box. Inside was a pack of toothpicks. His sister filmed my reaction while the family laughed. Brandon called it a “joke,” but the humiliation cut deeply. I set the PS5 at his feet, told them exactly what I thought of their cruelty, and walked out.

The next day, Brandon apologized and blamed his sister — but I was done. Love shouldn’t require earning respect from people who enjoy tearing others down. Leaving hurt, but keeping my dignity mattered more.