Melissa pushed herself to her feet, her legs trembling as if they might give out. The weight of Herald’s words bore down on her like a crushing wave. Her mind swirled with memories she had buried for years, memories of her and her mother’s relentless struggles.
She shut her eyes, as though the darkness could shield her from the vivid images that flashed across her mind. Her voice quivered when she finally spoke.
“Did you know Mum couldn’t afford to send me to college?” she asked, her voice cracking. “That’s why I had to rely on a scholarship. Did you know she died delivering packages late at night, just so we could have enough to eat?” Tears threatened to spill, but she forced herself to hold them back, though her voice grew shakier.
“Do you know I had to drop out of college because I
