Chapter 26Over my sister’s ramblings of “I’m sorry,” and “I’m a fool,” I could hear Philip’s infectious laughter in the kitchen, my mother telling him to cook the fish “tender so the flesh is flaky and moist around the edges.”
Their friendly banter made me feel better, pulling me out of my rut.
My sister’s urgent pleas to accept her apology forced me to face her. I was frightened to look her in the eye. At that moment, she wasn’t my sister but a stranger, someone I didn’t want to know. I winced at her bloodshot stare, red nose, and the trail of broken capillaries on her face.
“Paula, this may be hard to hear, but you need help,” I said.
She turned away, ignoring me, her head falling backwards, eyelids rolling closed. She rocked back and forth on the edge of the bed, nervously, her foot
