5 minutes: A spirit of parsimonium
It drifted down over us when he left. It wasn't really unexpected. Just another step in this life I guess.
I wasn't sure if my daughter would understand but she had somehow become much wiser than I had been at her age. Rent was the obvious priority. I quickly asked some of my best friends if they could find programs that could help. Thankfully they were some of the best people I ever knew, and they had my back all the way.
Eating out was definitely out of the question now, but clothes were still an issue. There was only so much I could patch for my daughter and myself. Some things I just left with holes and tears in them.
Fortunately that was still socially acceptable in these times.