She was never a burden.

I would have looked after my sister for the rest of my life, gladly, joyfully, if she had ever needed me to.

She was never, ever a burden.”

“I know that,” Gabriel said gently.

“I always knew that.

But they never planned to let you have the choice, Nora.

That was the whole point.

Your mother looked me in the eye and she said, and I have never forgotten the exact words, she said: Nora deserves a real life of her own.