I froze in shock.

— Sweetheart… did you do this? — I asked in a trembling voice.

— No, Mommy, I just kissed her, — she answered, her voice shaking, almost crying.

A chill ran down my spine. I immediately called my sister. When she answered, I told her what I had found.
She was silent for a long time, then said, in an eerily calm voice:

— It was me…

At first, I didn’t understand.

— What do you mean, you?

— I did it… I just couldn’t take it anymore. She cried all night. I didn’t sleep, I didn’t eat… I didn’t mean to, I just lost control.

I sat in silence, not knowing what to say. My chest tightened with fear and pain. In my mind, I could see her tired, broken smile.

And I understood — my sister wasn’t a monster. She was just burned out, lost, and no one had noticed in time how badly she was struggling.

Since that day, I’ve been visiting her almost every day. I take the baby with me so she can sleep, take a walk, or simply feel human again — not just a constantly anxious, exhausted mother.

Sometimes I think back to that day and realize how close she was to the edge. And how important it is to have someone nearby — someone who offers a shoulder at just the right moment.