Emily’s silence answered before her mouth did.
The paramedic looked at me. “When was her last meal?”
“I—I don’t know. I was at work.”
Teresa folded her arms. “There was plenty of pizza.”
Emily looked away.
“What did you eat?” I asked gently.
“A piece of toast this morning.”
My stomach dropped.
It was after ten at night.
The paramedic’s expression hardened. “She needs to be evaluated immediately.”
As they wheeled Emily toward the door, Teresa caught my sleeve.
“Ethan, before you go, you need to leave money for groceries. Your sisters are staying through the weekend.”
I slowly turned around.
The apartment went silent.
My mother released my sleeve.
For years, I had mistaken obedience for loyalty. Every time Teresa called me ungrateful, I worked harder. Every time one of my sisters made a reckless decision, I paid to fix it. Every time Emily gently suggested that they were taking advantage of me, I defended them.
