The Decision
In the short story “Eveline” by James Joyce, Eveline is a young lady that has a troubled life. Much of her misery comes from her abusive father who is also very controlling. Even when she has the opportunity to leave with her boyfriend, Frank, to begin a new life she does not take it. Why doesn’t she go? Maybe it’s because she does not know what kind of life she will have with Frank; perhaps, it’s because of the promise she made to her mother on her death bed. “Her promise was to keep the home together as long as she could”. (6)
My life had also been given a choice to make and it was not going to be an easy one. You see my parents were going through a divorce and I was being asked to choose between living with my mother or living with my father. My mother had always taken care of us. She was a stay at home mom and although she had worked in the past at this point in time she was not working. My father was a workaholic and even though I knew he loved me he rarely had time to spend with me and my siblings. The decision weighed heavy on my heart although I knew no matter what I chose I would be hurting one of my parents. My mother was a loving person but would not be able to provide the lifestyle I
was accustomed to. My father would be able to provide well for me but his time with me would be very restricted.
What was my decision? I decided I would take a different route. I was going to live with my paternal grand parents. I would have both of my needs met. I would be doted on by a loving maternal figure and I would live the lifestyle I had been accustomed to. I made a decision no one expected me to make. My mother and father were both shocked by my decision but I knew that it was the only one I could make. The insanity of the divorce was wearing on my sanity. I had to do what I thought was best...