High Hopes

Family First

When Avery got home that evening, the house was quiet, except for the hum of the refrigerator and the muffled sound of a cartoon coming from her little brother Eli's room. Her mom wasn't back from work yet; she'd be pulling a double shift tonight at the hospital. Avery dropped her backpack by the door and let out a sigh, feeling the weight of responsibility settle back on her shoulders.

She peeked into Eli's room, where he was sitting up in bed, propped up by pillows, his face illuminated by the soft glow of the TV. His eyes lit up when he saw her, and he grinned, showing off his missing front tooth.

"Ave!" he said, his voice bright. "Look, I drew you something."

Avery stepped into the room, her heart swelling as she took the crayon drawing he handed her. It was a shaky but heartfelt picture of her standing on a stage, a microphone in her hand, with a crowd of stick figures cheering her on.

"I love it, buddy," she said, smiling as she ruffled his hair. "You make me look like a rockstar."

Eli beamed, and for a moment, Avery let herself feel the warmth of his admiration. Eli didn't know about the sacrifices she made, the late nights, or the struggle to balance her dreams with taking care of him. All he knew was that his big sister was special, and he believed in her more than anyone else.

"Can you sing to me?" he asked, his eyes hopeful.

"Of course," she replied, sitting beside him on the bed. She gently started singing one of his favorite lullabies, her voice soft and low. Eli leaned against her, his small hand clutching hers as his eyelids grew heavy.

By the time she finished, he was fast asleep, his breathing slow and even. Avery carefully slipped off the bed, watching him for a moment before heading into the kitchen to make herself something to eat. She grabbed a bowl of cereal, not even bothering to turn on the lights, and sat down at the table, letting the quiet settle around her.

As she ate, her mind drifted back to the competition Jada had mentioned. She wanted it-she wanted it so badly it hurt. But thinking of Eli, of her mom working long hours just to make ends meet, she felt selfish for even considering it. The entry fee alone was a lot, and then there was the time she'd need to prepare. It felt impossible.

Just then, the door creaked open, and her mom walked in, looking exhausted, her shoulders slumped with fatigue. Avery stood up to greet her, noting the dark circles under her mom's eyes, the worry lines that had deepened over the years.

"Hey, Mom," she said softly. "How was work?"

Her mom managed a tired smile. "Busy as always. How's Eli?"

"He's good. Sleeping now," Avery replied. She wanted to tell her mom about the competition, but something held her back. She wasn't ready to see the look of doubt in her mom's eyes.

Instead, her mom reached out and gently touched her shoulder. "Avery, I know you're doing so much for us, and I don't say it enough, but thank you. I couldn't get through all this without you."

Avery swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding. "It's okay, Mom. I'm here."

But as her mom went to her room, Avery felt the weight of it all pressing down on her. She was here for her family, and she always would be. Yet, deep down, her heart whispered that maybe, just maybe, she was allowed to want something for herself too.