“You’re a lifeline to that boy. A life jacket, if you will.” “No, I’m not.” “Yes, you are,” she coaxed. “You’ve been keeping him afloat for years now.” “But it’s not enough, Mam,” I cried hoarsely. “I can’t keep watching him suffer. I’m so afraid for him. You don’t understand. It’s paralyzing. I am so fucking scared for him that I can barely breathe. One of these days, he’s going to go under, and I won’t be able to pull him back.”
