I stared at Ethan.
He wouldn't look at me.
Finally, he said quietly,
"Your parents already made the decision. Being angry won't change anything."
I swallowed.
"So you all knew I would arrive here without enough money?"
No one answered.
Mom softened her voice.
"You're the older sister. Don't make Lily feel guilty."
I nodded.
"Okay."
They relaxed.
They thought I'd accepted it.
They didn't understand what I had just decided.
That night, I applied for an on-campus job.
I also requested permission to stay in the dorm during winter and summer breaks.
I wasn't going home.
Not this time.
The next morning, Lily called.
"Emily, which professor should I choose for calculus?"
"I'm in class right now. The course system has reviews."
"I don't understand them."
"Ask your advisor."
She went quiet.
Then Mom took the phone.
"Emily, helping your sister for five minutes won't hurt."
"She cried all night because she thinks you're angry with her."
I hung up.
When I checked my phone later, there were already messages from my brothers.
Send Lily your high-school notes.
Help her write her club application.
Make her a weekly study schedule.
Then Mom sent the final message.
Three nights a week.
Two hours each night.
Tutoring Lily.
I stared at the schedule.
Not once had anyone asked if I had classes.
Not once had anyone asked whether I had work.
They simply assumed I would rearrange my life around Lily.
Because that was what I had always done.
When my brother needed paperwork, I handled it.
When my other brother forgot something, I delivered it.
When Ethan fought with my parents, I was the one who apologized.
They called me responsible.
Mature.
Understanding.
They never called it what it really was.
They expected me to be available.
I finally replied to my oldest brother.
"I need my notes."
To my other brother:
"Lily can write her own application."
Then I sent one message to the family group chat.
"I don't have time to tutor Lily."
My phone exploded.
Mom called.
Dad called.
My brothers called.