When I wasn’t focused on school, I was helping my mom care for my younger brother, Caleb, who had serious health problems. I pretended everything was fine, but it wasn’t.
At almost 12 a.m., I sat at our kitchen table surrounded by textbooks, overdue notices, and hospital bills. My homework stared back at me, untouched.
From the next room, Caleb coughed. The sound made my stomach tighten every time.
I was helping my mom.
My mom stepped into the kitchen wearing her robe. She looked exhausted. The dark circles under her eyes seemed deeper every week. She placed a mug of tea beside me.
« You should be asleep, Taylor. »
« So should you. »
She smiled, but it faded quickly.
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