AITA for refusing to adopt my sister's baby even though my family says I should?

I’m only 21 years old, but I’ve finally reached a turning point in my life. After graduating from college with scholarships and grants covering the majority of my bills, I was able to get stable employment and purchase a small flat. Life was meant to be just beginning for me, full of promise, freedom, and enthusiasm about new prospects. But right now, a terrible circumstance in my family is upending everything. Recently, my older sister, who has battled heroin addiction for years, gave birth to a baby girl. Unfortunately, my niece was born addicted to heroin and is presently undergoing withdrawal in the hospital. Observing it is heartbreaking, and the misery of it all overwhelms me.

Now, my family is urging me to adopt the baby, claiming that I am the most stable and financially secure member of the family, making me the greatest candidate to take on this duty. They believe that with my consistent income and new flat, I am best able to provide a better life for my niece. However, I feel unprepared and unequipped to raise a child, especially one with such exceptional needs, at the age of 21, as I am just beginning my job. The pressure is strong, and as the baby’s hospital discharge date gets closer, I’m caught between my fear of failing my niece and my deep apprehension about taking on such a massive, life-altering responsibility.

via Reddit

image credits: Arina Krasnikova

image credits: Ron Lach

image credits: Designecologist

image credits: Isaac Taylor

Finally, I see I must make a decision I can live with, balancing my love for my niece with the reality of my preparedness and capacity to offer the life she requires. It’s a difficult decision between following my heart and listening to my worries, but in the end, I must do what feels best for both her and my future, even if it means disappointing my family.