We raised ourselves. Our mother tried, but she was hardly around. Still, we were happy, poor, but full of laughter.

The world hadn’t broken us yet.

Not back then.

She always tells me how much she loves me and my siblings. I knew she loved us all equally. But the pain she goes through because of me pushes me to obey her and not go against her wishes. She once took me to the hospital for a check-up. She looked so tired. I cried quietly when I saw how worn-out she was. She spent all her money on me.

I didn’t know she wasn’t doing all this just for me....