I stood there, in the middle of the reception, my throat tight and my chest heavy. I didn’t want to ruin my sister’s wedding, but at the same time, I felt my whole body shake with indignation. I wasn’t a child, I wasn’t a burden, I wasn’t living off their money. Everything I had was hard-earned and paid for, sometimes with sleepless nights and debts that dragged behind me for years.
I sat down at a table farther away, taking a deep breath to calm my thoughts. Then I saw Clara approaching. She had a sincere but shy smile, as if she sensed something was wrong.
“Is something wrong?” She seemed to be asking with her eyes alone.
