Because I'll die if I don't. Because the plot wants me dead. Because I'm tangled up with deities and destiny and I don't know how to escape.
But she couldn't say any of that.
"I just do," she repeated.
Her mother grabbed her shoulders, forcing Wish to meet her eyes. "Then at least eat more before you go. Please." Her voice broke. "If you're going to be stubborn about this, at least let me feed you properly one last time."
The words "one last time" made Wish's throat tight.
She sat back down.
Her mother immediately began piling food onto her plate—more dumplings, another ladle of soup, two more sweet buns. When Wish tried to protest, she picked up one of the sweet buns herself.
"Mother, I can't eat all this—"
"These ones are sweeter." Her voice shook slightly as she held it up. "I made them this morning. Try them."
Wish opened her mouth to refuse, and her mother simply stuffed the bun directly into it.
