I no longer refused Terrence’s offer. Who was I to protest, when deep inside I knew that everything he was doing wasn’t just for me—but for my mom as well? Even if accepting help of that magnitude made me uncomfortable, my need for peace of mind outweighed everything else. Knowing that I no longer had to worry about the cost of quality medication for my mother gave me a kind of relief I hadn’t felt in a long time.

All I had to do now was visit Mom, make sure she was doing well, and ...