When Tough Love Kills

ire burned through every muscle. My vision started to

gasped, my vo

's voice boomed from the doorway. "

unyielding. "Stop being dramatic, Molly.

ugh concrete scraping my skin. They didn't see m

e brother, Ryan. He was only seven, and his eyes were wide with

me, his movements s

d, holding out the b

my mother's sharp voi

et away

e arm, pulling him back. "Don't you da

ing? You're a bad influence. You're a quit

small body shaking. "Bu

dragging him out of the garage.

my legs was now an unbearable agony. My body was screaming, but the pain in

the garage door flew open again. This ti

frantic. "We have to go. It's Gra

gs gave out instantly, and I collapsed onto the concrete floor,

, kicking my foot. "We have to

trembled and failed. My vision swam. "I

the act!" she shrieked. "W

ely conscious, with the responsibility of my seven-year-old brothe