After Donald’s house burned down in a fire two months ago, he found himself in an unfamiliar position—living with his son, Peter, and his family. It was a challenging time for everyone. Peter and his wife, Sandra, had three young children, and the household was already bustling with the energy of raising kids. They insisted that Donald stay with them until he got back on his feet, but over time, Donald began to feel like a burden.

One afternoon, as they sat on the porch drinking tea, Donald’s neighbor, Mary, who was around his age, shared her own experience with him. She had stayed with her daughter for a few weeks before moving out, convinced that her presence was straining their relationship. She recalled how her daughter had seemed frustrated with her, blaming her for everything that went wrong—from the noise in the mornings to the rise in the electric bill. As Mary spoke, Donald couldn’t help but wonder if the same thing might be happening to him.

Her words weighed heavily on Donald, and he began to worry that he might be overstaying his welcome. Although Peter and Sandra had never complained, Donald noticed they were coming home later and later every day.

He began to wonder if they were secretly unhappy with his presence. To ease his conscience, he started looking into nursing homes and assisted-living facilities nearby, convinced it was time for him to go. Read more below