She started to lower herself, bending at the knees, and instinct took over. I reached out to catch her, my gaze sweeping across the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes, the silver threading through her temples. My throat tightened.
For a long moment, I said nothing.
Then I steeled myself.
"Mom, you do this every time. You guilt me into bailing Ethel out. But this time I genuinely need this money. I'm begging you. Please stop pushing me."
When she saw I wasn't budging, my mother dropped to her knees.
"I'm not forcing you. You're the one forcing your sister to die, forcing your father and me to die! If you won't agree, then I'll kowtow to you. I'll keep going until you say yes."
Thud. Her forehead hit the floor with a dull, sickening sound, and it might as well have been a hammer striking my chest.
I slumped forward and grabbed her arms. My mind was screaming, clawing at the walls, but all I felt was a crushing helplessness.
In that moment, I wished I'd been born from a crack in the earth rather than from the flesh and blood of these two people.
Finally, I let out a long breath and made my decision.