“I’ll pay you back.” “You won’t. You can’t.” “Then, tell me how I can repay you?” I folded the check in half, wondering what he’d do right then if I tore it to pieces in front of him. “I can’t just accept this. It isn’t right.” “Neither is intentionally letting yourself sink in quicksand. Focus on yourself for once. And eliminate the roadblocks that stand in your way.”