When Tough Love Kills

attempt was

burning my nostrils. My mother, Debra, stood at the foot of

ool," she said, her voice clipped and h

was okay. She didn

they were poison. "Do you have any idea what this does t

ding my eyes. He just wrung his hands, a ner

ng flooded back-the darkness of the freezer, the punches to my ribs, their

ded help,"

stop being so dramatic. You think life is easy? You hav

cter flaw, an embarrassing weakn

ng no room for argument. "We're going to have a family intervention.

g. He just opened the door for her

ng a cold path down my temple. The intervention wo

illed with the loud, booming

p like I was a lazy player on his team. "Lo

"It's a toxin buildup, Debra. Poor diet, negative thinking. My supplements co

honorable discharge, who took charge. His eyes wer

eal challenge. You have to break them down to bui

. "What do you suggest, Anthony? We have to do some

reading across his face. "We start right now.

outh. "Now, hold on, A

ur soft-parenting is what got us here

as cold and smelled of gasoline and dust.

. "It's a classic. Teaches disc

ulation. Then they forced me into a wall-sit, my back flat aga

and agree to go back to school," my mother said, her voice devoid o

my thighs and back. My bruised ribs from the hazing screame

t look