She didn’t even flinch. Didn’t even blink. “And your niece has a class party tomorrow,” she shot back, her tone scolding, as if I’d forgotten to do my chores. “If you don’t show up with those cupcakes, you will humiliate this family.”

I swear something in me broke right then—something fragile and stupid and loyal that had kept me tethered to them all these years. Before I could speak, my sister stepped around the corner, arms crossed, rolling her eyes like a bored teenager.