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Her s back from her face “No, I understand all of that more than you could ever know”

“And that’s why I’h stuff so you don’t have to”

Her mom frowned back at her “Oh, Jenny, you don’t really always feel that, do you?”

She stiffened, not wanting to reveal too much, but she was also beyond exhausted She just wanted to crawl into her bed and cry Jennifer had spent weeks trying to be strong, and she couldn’t do it any longer Maybe, in a way, she’d been strong since Syd was just a baby and her dad had left It was too heavy a burden to carry any longer

“Sometimes,” she admitted “It’s just that I feel all the time like you and Syd are my responsibility I feel like since Dad left, I have to fix it”

“You don’t have to fix anything Sweetie,” herher cheek, “don’t you understand that I have to take care of you?”

“But it’s just us and Dad left and Sydney was sick, and we all had to do the best we could I just knew you were so upset for so long and working three jobs Someone had to help”

“And you did You’ve always been irl, but you don’t have to anymore”

“It just feels,” Jennifer started, her voice thick with eets pulled out frouys Dustin was a cheater and so was Dad You can only rely on yourself, and I have to help you the best I can”

Her mom squeezed her shoulder “No, honey Sure, we help each other, but you never have to take care of me You never have to feel like you’re the mom We’re a team”

“I can try, but I just want you to be happy”

“But if you make yourself miserable and exhausted, then I’ to force for me It’s okay to feel how you feel, to be scared for Sydney I aain You don’t And you’re wrong”

“I am?”

“Yes, because not every ht, but he dotes on Sydney even now He’s a goodso a bit and exchanging texts He’s sent me a card every few days I’ve been in New York”

“You still date?”