I held my breath and waited to exhale. I had hoped that you would say when, but you never did. I could feel my lungs shaking and my heart stiffening. Tears swelled in discomfort, but they never fell on the brink. Death whispered to me, live, child. Breathe. Think. Who do you live for? Who is the keeper of your love? What is it you sacrifice? Speak. I let a sigh escape my lips. In that moment, the answer was me