Helplessness and Confusion
Emily stepped out of the church feeling down but with a flicker of hope. Shed been praying tearfully for the Lord to bless her with a child. She and her husband, James, had been married for over ten years, yet she still couldnt conceive. So, she started going to church, begging and pleading. A decade of marriage, and not a single pregnancy.
Shed cried so many tears, seen so many doctors, only to hear the same thing:
*”Youre both healthythese things happen. You just have to wait Maybe its not the right time yet.”*
*”But how much longer, James? How much?”* shed ask, looking at her husband. *”A family isnt complete without a child.”*
James was torn up toohe longed for an heir, especially since he ran a successful business. They lived comfortably, wanted for nothing except a child.
*”Em, maybe we could adopt? A little one, raise them as our own?”* her husband suggested.
*”No, James. I want to carry my own baby. Why do the doctors keep saying Im fine when I cant?”*
Then, whether by divine mercy or sheer timing, Emily finally got pregnant. The joy was overwhelming, though the pregnancy wasnt easy. She endured every hardship, desperate to bring her long-awaited child into the world.
Oliver was born frail, often sick, but his parents doted on him day and night. As he grew, they shielded him from everythingeven other children, terrified hed catch something. Emily avoided playgrounds, walking him far from other kids.
Nothing was too good for Oliver. By four, he had a tablet. By his first day of school, the latest phone. Whatever he wanted, he got. But the older he got, the worse his temper became.
James was always at work. Emily stayed home, ferrying Oliver to and from school, cooking whatever he demanded. If she made something else?
*”What is this rubbish? Im not eating it. I dont want stew!”* Hed dump a whole salt shaker into his bowl. *”Make my favourite soup instead.”*
At thirteen, Oliver was unbearable. Emily tried talking to James, but he just shrugged.
*”Em, its just a phase. Lads go through this. Give it time.”*
One evening, James came home with a gift.
*”Son, got you a new phone.”*
Oliver snatched the box, then a minute later
*”Seriously? I told you which one I wanted! Only losers have this one. You want me to get laughed at?”* He hurled it across the room and slammed the door.
His parents exchanged stunned glances.
*”Told you,”* Emily muttered. James had no reply.
It was the same with clothes, shoesthey stopped buying anything without him, or hed throw a fit. Then the school called.
Emily knew it wasnt good.
*”Whats he done now?”* She didnt even want to ask him.
*”Hello, Mrs. Thompson,”* his teacher said. *”Thanks for coming. We need to talk about Olivers behaviour. He insults staff, disrupts lessons, then smirks and says he knows his rights, threatening to report us. He lends his phone to classmates, then demands money for itmakes them do his homework too.”*
Emily wanted the ground to swallow her. Her face burned with shame.
*”Please, Mrs. Thompson, you need to intervene,”* the teacher finished.
She apologised, promised to handle it. Walking home, she realisedshe was afraid shed snap and slap him one day.
*”Where did we go wrong? We loved him, gave him everything. How did kindness turn into cruelty?”* Oliver had grown aggressive, disrespectful, unbearableand he was their miracle child.
They couldnt control their only son.
Next door, a family with four kids lived in peaceno shouting, no chaos. The older boys even helped Emily carry shopping if they saw her struggling. She once asked their mum, Sophie, her secret.
*”Its just normal for us,”* Sophie said. *”My husband grew up in a big familymore kids, more harmony. They help each other. Honestly, its not hard.”*
Emily envied her. Not once had she heard a harsh word from those kids.
Oliver stormed in after school, flung his bag down, kicked off his designer trainers.
*”Schools rubbish. Teachers are rubbish. Mum, I told youkeep my door shut. Youre not allowed in here!”*
Emily stayed silent, still reeling from the teachers words. Olivers mood was always the sameanger, blame, endless negativity.
She set the table, expecting him for lunchbut he never came. She knocked, then walked in.
Oliver stood there, slowly cutting up his expensive leather jacket with scissors, smirking at her.
Her stomach dropped.
*”Thats what you get for going to school. Big deal, the teacher called you in. Enjoy the show. Oh, this jackets too cheap nowbuy me a better one, or Ill do it again.”*
He kept cutting, taunting her. Emily snappedshe slapped him hard.
He clutched his cheek, stunned. For a second, she wanted to hug him. Then she saw his facepure rage.
*”Oh, so thats how it is? Watch this.”*
He grabbed his phone, dialled.
*”Police? Come quickmy mum just hit me. Yeah, my actual mum. Hurry!”*
When the officer arrived, he frowned. The posh flat, the well-dressed boysomething was off.
*”Must be a mistake?”*
*”No mistake,”* Oliver spat. *”She hit me. I want her punished.”*
The officer had seen neglect, drunks, starving kidsbut this?
*”Just a family row, mate. Sort it out.”* He turned to leave.
*”No! I know my rights! If you walk away, Ill report you too!”*
The officer froze, then looked at Emily.
*”Take him,”* she said wearily. *”Maybe this will change something.”*
Oliver came home later, sneering.
*”Now youll dance to my tune.”*
James was back by then, furious.
The next day, social services arrived. They listened, sighed, then said:
*”Pack your things, Oliver. Youre coming with us.”*
*”Where?”*
*”A care home. If youre being mistreated here, we have to act.”*
Oliver paled.
As they left, one woman whispered to Emily:
*”Ill call you.”*
The door shut. Emily collapsed into a chair.
*”James I never dreamed theyd take him. But its our only chance.”*
Oliver called the next day.
*”Mum, get me out of here! The foods gross, they took my stuff”*
*”We cant. Our rights are suspended for two weeks.”* She hung up.
They hoped the strict environment would wake him up. Maybe losing his luxuries would help.
At the care home, James barely recognised his sonquiet, calm, no smirk in sight.
*”Dad are you taking me home for good?”*
*”Do you want?”*
*”Yes.”*
Back home, Oliver exhaled.
*”Its so good here Mum, Dad, Im sorry. I was awful. I pushed you I get it now.”*
Emily smiled.
*”Welcome home, love. Dinners ready.”*
