Her Parents Used Her College Fund to Pay for Her Brother’s Wedding—She Found Out on Move-In Day
Sophie Miller had imagined her first day of college hundreds of times.
She imagined carrying boxes into her dorm.
Meeting her roommate.
Calling her mother that evening to say she had survived the day.
She never imagined sitting in the financial services office while a stranger told her she owed $38,400.
Sophie stared at the computer screen.
“That can’t be right.”
The woman behind the desk checked again.
“Your scholarships have been applied.”
Sophie shook her head.
“No. My tuition was supposed to be paid.”
“Do you have a private scholarship?”
“My grandmother set up a college fund.”
The employee scrolled through Sophie’s account.
“We haven’t received a payment from an outside account.”
Sophie pulled out her phone.
“My parents handled it. Maybe the transfer is late.”
The woman gave her a sympathetic smile.
“That could be the case. But you need to speak with whoever manages the account.”
Sophie walked outside.
Her mother answered almost immediately.
“Are you all moved in?”
“Not exactly.”
“What happened?”
“The school says they never got the tuition payment.”
Silence.
Sophie stopped walking.
“Mom?”
Her mother’s voice changed.
“Okay. Don’t panic.”
That was the moment Sophie knew something was wrong.
