e table in front of me. The clink of ceramic ag

and I need to talk to you

er internship. It was a huge opportunity, a paid position at a top marketi

ch. My parents only used that serio

asked, trying to k

al armchair, his face a mask of solemn concern that didn' t quite reach h

huge star in the 90s. He' d been a recluse for years, living off

sorry to hear that. W

ted. The point is, he needs someone to look after him

aughed. "Me? Mom, I can' t. My internship starts

laptop's trackpad, star

cross my vision, right over my father's head. It

re worried about his royalties. Rick' s music just got licensed

at was that? I must be more stresse

his voice taking on a harder edge. "Fami

areer-defining internship. They don' t just h

e. "But your uncle is very wealthy. If you take good care of him, he' ll be v

text flas

ming from his accounts for years. Now that he'

y smelled bitter. I pushed it away. "No. I can

end the conversatio

is voice low and cold. He stood up too, towering

surprisingly strong, and it hurt. A small, painful

sked, my voice shaking wit

I were a difficult child

ion. "You said he' s sick. What

r frowned, picking up her teacup and plac

"It' s just... a liver problem. From his

ake care of him?" I shot back

ising. "Someone has to pay the bills. You' re the one

od together, a united front against me. I was their daughter, but

ot fair,"

arm, but his next wor

dy called your internship coordinator this morning. I told them

ut of my lungs.

u wh

There' s no interns

blue text seared itself int

contagious and socially unacceptable disea

hem, I grabbed my phone from the coffee table. I fumbled with th

rom the firm' s HR depar

situation. Under the circumstances, we must formally rescind

es. The phone slipped from my h

t. They had destroyed my fut