I held Mom's hand as she cried for a time before pulling herself together. When my mother looked up at me again, there was more strength there than ever before.

"Syd," she said to me, as serious as I had ever seen her, "I need you to do something for me."

"Anything, Mom," I said, and I meant it.

"I need you to take care of your sister," she answered. The urgency in her voice did nothing to slow the pounding of my heart. "No matter what happens, no matter what you ...