“Andthen,”Sonyacontinued, ignoringtheolderwoman,“whenIneededthatextraenergytodoalltheworkIhadtodoinmyfirstexecutiveposition, suddenlyIhadtheenergyIneeded, andyoucouldbarelydragyourselfoutofbedinthemorning!”
“Ijustwantedtoseeyousucceed.”
“Why?”Sonyadroppeddownonherkneesinfrontofhermother'swheelchair, clutchinghermother'sfrailhands.“Whydidyoudoallthistoyourself?Why?I'mnotworthit, Mom!NosuccessI'vehadinmylifeisworthwhatyou'vedonetoyourself, forme!”
“Oh,”saidhermother, strokingSonya'shair,“you', everythingIgaveup, wasworthitbecauseofyou, ofwhatyou'vemadeofyourself.”
“Mom, Mom, please, I'mbeggingyou, 'twantmysuccessontheseterms!Idon'twanttoseeyougrowmoreandmorefrail, moreandmorehelpless, justsothatIcangrowstrongerandricherandmorefamous!”
“What'sholdingyoubacknow?”askedhermother.“Whydidn'tyougetthepromotion?”
“I'mnotgoingtotellyou!Aren'tyoulisteningtome?Idon'twantyoutodomoretoyourselfforme!”
Hermotherlookeddownatherforafewseconds, andthennodded.“Ah, yes, , 'realmostthere, aren'tyou?Youjustneedalittlemore, justatadmorestrength, butit''regoingtogetit, don'tworry.”
Sonyaraisedherhead, horrified.“No, Mom!Itoldyou, Idon'twantit!Don't-whateveryou'regoingtodo, don'tdoit!”
Hermother'sheadsnappedbackwards, , horrified, clutchedathermother', andthepersonnelatthenursinghomerushedtowardthem.
Butbeforetheyarrived, hermother'seyesopenedforasecond, andforthelasttime, Sonyasawtheintelligenceshealwaysrememberedinhermother.“Haveadaughter,”hermotherbreathed.“Doitforher.”
