ced that the family needed to

We should have one last, perfect meal at the fanciest restaurant in town.

r had already met with a real estate agent and was talking about how much equity they

r agreed, her eyes shinin

ant so expensive that we had only ever walke

, I went to my boss at the small accountin

minute, but a huge project just landed on my desk. I'd love to get a head start on

rk ethic, beamed at me. "Lily, that's the kind of initiative

said, my voice dripping with fake disappointment. "I c

he world is ending and you're

said quietly, a line I had heard my

ppointed. "Oh, Lily.

"But this project... it could lead to

ould never outshine Sarah's "special gifts." They reluctantly agreed it was a sensible decision. Secretly, I thi

ousand dollars on a meal they couldn't afford, I was sitting in my quiet, empty office. I

" they had taken her on a weekend trip to a luxury spa, maxing out a credit card. I had just lost my part-time college job and asked

they weren't just spending money. They were burning thei

icture of a massive seafood tower, glistening with oysters and lobster claws.

ced shrimp at a time. I felt a surge of something cold and satisfying

it was a frantic call from my dad. I

all me. It's

for ten minutes b

rst ring, his voice a panicke

ked, feigning concer

ut... the card

e to their credit limit for years. This

"Sarah... she ordered the most expensive bottle of champagne. To 'toas

iners in the background. I could picture him, huddled in a c

bit card?" I asked,

whole new 'apocalypse wardrobe' online this afternoon. She said

rse sh

ant me to do,

sfer some money to my account? From your savings? Just until

. The responsible daughter who bails her family out of th

ve student loans, remember? And I have to pay my rent

diligently for years, a secret n

"They're going to call the

Dad. I can

und, loud and indignant. "What is taking s

ixture of anger and despair. "Fine,"

shed face. Sarah' s inevitable tantrum. And my father, having to make the most humiliating phone call of his life-not to me, but to his own elderly mother, my grandmother, begg

ps. This was so much better than b