I have sworn off debt. It is the bane that destroyed our family. It was the termite that slowly chewed on the foundation until the entire house crumbled down. I have long sprayed it out. I will never let it creep back again. Never in a thousand years.

My father used to be a happy man. The corner of his eyes used to crinkle when he smiled and he smiled all the time. He used to hum songs too. Now his face has wrinkles from his troubles. He mumbles too. My mother was as bright as sunshine. The tinkle of her laughter I can still hear, but now it’s like a distant bell. The joy left them because of the piled debt credit. It was shooed off by the debt collectors who incessantly knocked on the door of our home.

The debts started when my father lost his job because of the recession. He took out a small loan at first to help him start a business. When the business failed, he took out another loan to pay for the small loan. It all piled up. Then there were quarrels. The next thing I know they were filing for divorce. I’ll make sure that I’ll never be in debt.