My son was smart. Smarter than me. I almost requested a paternity test because he was so damn intelligent. (THAT’S A JOKE.) My ex and I divorced when he was about 12. She remarried when he was 14. I did when he was 16.

He always lived with me, as my ex wanted to focus on bettering her personal life and “getting along with her stepson,” so she visited him rarely, only sometimes taking him for holidays. It was sad.

I had a 529 Plan set up for him. As long as he went for post-secondary education, he could use the money for anything. When he got accepted to Yale, it was the proudest moment of my life.

But… soon after, my son was struck and killed by a drunk driver in November. I’m dealing with it. I was handling the funeral arrangements and everything when my ex came to talk to me about his money.

“I know you have this fund. So, since you don’t need it anymore, I want you to give it to my stepson. Jerry (her current husband) thinks it’s fair too.”

I thought I misheard. I was SHOCKED she even dared to ask about this. I decided to put them both in their place.

“No,” I said, as calmly as I could muster, though my hands trembled with rage. “That money was for our son, and only our son. It’s not some community chest for you and Jerry to raid.”

Her face tightened. “But Jerry’s son could really use it—”

“Stop,” I interrupted. “Your stepson is not my responsibility, and neither are you. That money will either go to charity or stay in the account untouched. It’s not going to someone who never knew or cared about my son.”

Her mouth opened, but no words came out. I continued, my voice cold and steady. “You weren’t there for him when he was alive. Don’t you dare try to profit from his death.”

She stormed out without another word, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like I’d done right by my boy.