ing that I was to blame for my father's death. I knew she wouldn't let this go-it was a wound she never hesitated to reopen. Every opportunity she got, she s

ain. "Working in that trashy strip club, degrading yourself for a few measly dollars. Is that w

what I had to do to survive. And all she did all day was laze around, guzzling wine, bottle after bottle, without even thinking about her c

-my job was far from ideal, but it was the only way I knew how to keep a roof over my head and put food on the table. She did nothin

r me. No matter what I did, it would never be enough to satisfy this woman. So what if she was right?-

wanting to hear any more lectures on my choi

experienced some pregnancy complications and had to be rushed to the hospital. The doctors advised her to a

omi's good fortune, I loved my sister dearly. But before I

eed to leave that horrible business of stripping and g

ut, unable to mask the

ntment. "Nayan, you ungrateful little br

I shot back before

yan

I retorted, bristling at her suggesti

for you. She's always been there to suppo

retrace every moment to when Dad died, then you would know that I have don

ing her eyes in anger, maybe almost ready to strike me. "Your sister ha

bout you, Mom?" I challenged, my voice trembling with different

, Nayan," she replied dismissively. "But you-you have the opportunity

n't buy a nanny or what?

needs her family, not some hired help. She needs someon

spite my resentment towards Naomi's privileged lifestyle, she was still my younger sister, no

ice my thoughts, she

ve to do this? Does she always have to bring back painful memories of Dad? At least, if she didn't care anymore about him, the least she co

eplied softly. "

other end of the line before my mothe

know this isn't easy for you, b

Na

and I was tempted to hurl the phone across the room. But then I remembered that if I broke my phone, I wouldn'

bother to check the caller ID-I knew it was my mom. Maybe s

ed, my voice cho

e been trying to reach you all evening," Lil's c

to fresh sobs, unable t

, hey, wha

out between sobs, "it's

ed me gently. "Take a deep br

h my mother. "She wants me to leave my job and go help Naomi," I explain

rea

rything and go take care of her

't hire a nan

says someone

doesn't have so

il

It's horrible of your mo

matter how busy I am, I should

n believe th

id softly. "But you're not al

ut this time they were tears of gratitud

I'm coming over to your apartment tomorr

ier now. "Thank you, Lil. I don'

aid reassuringly. "I'

ter hanging up, I felt a little better, but the ache in my chest remained.

lip from my eyes. I thought about the nights I danced, the men who watched me with lustful eyes, and

purpose. I wasn't just dancing for the money; I was dancing for a future where I could leave this rundown apartment behind, for

n, a place where I could proudly call my own and invite my friends if at all I had anyone other than Lilian Parker i

myself in the mirror, seeing the traces of my tears and the exhaustion in my eyes. But I also saw a

ouring my thoughts and feelings onto the screen. Writing has always been a way for me to cope, to make sense

it felt a little more manageable. I wrote until my eyes grew heavy, and then

ck into my head. Tomorrow would be another day, another chance to fight f