Jer

-

Castill

sees the same cartoon she's been seeing for months, with her niece seated in he

ne-Marie a snack. Anne opens up her mouth to take the snack, and they bot

in silence, hugging her pr

, and I can tell from the sour expression on

ugh high school and college, we were inseparable, until her gap year. We graduated from college without her, returned to NJ

earth. No social media, no outings, no interacting with anyone unless it was

her?" Diana says in a hushed to

ack at Anne-Marie, wondering when the best time will be to br

ime jobs to pay off debts and bills, and take care of her niece. So, we appealed to Northbridge University on her behalf, stati

g is, she has to repeat junior year all over again. I'm not sure how that's going to make her feel. There's also a possibility of her securing a scholarship and

close to Northbridge, part-time jobs Anne-Marie can take on close to college; we'

gins, giggling and pointing a fi

g my gaze with a look in her eyes that says, 'I'm exhausted. Don't bother me.' Resolute, I spring

ng this.

ead and laughing. She giggles and puts her hands out to me. I meet my friend's dull

anne and turn away, meeting Diana's popped-out eyes and tightened face. I return to my seat, ro

of her face, flings the iPad to the other couc

plummets

and everything." Dia

nd." She re

face, exhaling

ng, and are ready to move states with you and Maryanne." I protest, the

s!

ee

, her green eyes heavy with pain a

ou hav

ng you want. I didn't ask

friends... We're family. You don't have t

words mean no

h tears. Turning back to Anne-Marie, hurt flashes in her eyes;

you were going to

too dead to b

aw s

storms out of the house. And immediately, little

Mommy!

stretching her hands, struggling to get out of my grip, and calling

nne-Marie returns, marchin

she fixes her eyes on her aunt, her tiny body t

her to

rgetic, almost falls out of my grip. Ann

ipping out of my seat

r arms protectively wr

e on the floor. "Please... Do it fo

voices out to us, fighting tear

" I mutter, cr

ired to pursue anything. I've grown content wit

nd we love you. And we'

e cries. "You won't be alone. I know your mom's gone. But she's still watching over you...,

he throws her head back,

eas

. You promised your m

er tiny hands to wipe the tears streaking An

ing lovingly into

't c

rying," sh

.. to

s time f

play

re center for her

r misty eyes to me.

ose to c

" Diana crawls ahead o

th get off

you give us

out an exhausted exhale. "Resu

anned to, scrambling off the ground so hastily. "Onli

to be face-to-face with her as she listens to us. "There's a payment plan for the first half of the se

to college after four years. It's really happening. There's just one thing w

e's also buried that part of her life when sh