mother moving around, no morning noise. For a second, she thought light had gone and everyone was just managin

on the floor, back against the wall, wrapper loose, f

ispered, kneeling besid

it off. "I just fainted

Rose said, already shaking.

room. His eyes were red, his voice low. "She collapsed

. "Mama, you can't protect m

r avoided

his tone was serious enough to scare Cynthia-Rose. High blood pressure, stress, fatigue

drugs?" Cynthia-R

t on a paper and slid it a

mind went blank. She nodded slowly, pr

her arm tightly. "Please don't do an

t home, her phone wouldn't stop buzzing. There were unknown numbers, missed calls and messages s

other is unwell,

ow?" Cynthia-Ros

replied. "I've settle

caught. "You

epeated. "The drugs wi

gh her. "We didn't

evenly. "But

," she snapped. "Y

ng you," he said quietly. "I'm jus

call with tr

ka thanked God. Neighbors whispered and peeked through curtains. Cynthia-Rose sat on her bed, st

No convoy. No drama. Just a calm knock. The a

ling stronger," he

mother replied, voice t

od stiffly. "Why

ith you," he

led the room until it

t Cynthia-Rose. "But I won't pretend I didn't expect

"So now you're expla

aining why hesitation is expensive.

s you almighty." He l

uffering optional." T

family," she sai

he replied. "It's up to you

ke softly, "Cyn

ave," he said. "Say no, and I walk away completely.

unded. "And i

ends." he said

her reached for her hand. "Whatever

es on her phone. Smiling photos, dreams, interviews where she spoke a

uzzed. 'Have

typed again. 'What hap

stop fighting survival and st

. 'I won't rush you, but

neatly on the table, then at the cracked walls that had wit

again and typed slowly

r a pause. 'Come to

ng at the ceiling. She hadn't said yes. She hadn't

n was just another