**The Call That Changed Everything**
I stood by the window, peering into the dark outline of the backyard. “The streetlights are out again. Its already ten, and Sophie still isnt back. If only she knew how worried I am. Shes only fourteen. Yet she manipulates her father like a grown woman, and he believes every word she sayshanding out cash whenever she demands it.”
The gate slammed, and the familiar rhythm of footsteps echoed under the archway. “Sophie!” I jumped back from the windowGod forbid she saw me watching, or thered be another row.
“Mum, I’m home!” Sophie shouted from the doorway. “Got anything to eat?”
“Arent you going to say hello?” I moved to kiss her cheek, but she dodged me, darting into her room. “Im starving! Ive got no time for this!”
“And where exactly are you rushing off to at this hour? Its past ten,” I said, bracing for another fight.
“Here we go again,” Sophie muttered just loud enough for me to hear. “Im nearly fifteenIm not a child!” She yanked clothes from her wardrobe, tossing them onto the floor in search of the right dress.
I stood there, helpless, my mind racing. *How do I reach her? How do I make her stop?*
“Whats wrong with you, just standing there like a statue?” she shrieked. “Im going clubbing with the girls. Its Halloweeneveryones out, and Im not missing it!” She tugged out a short, backless dress trimmed with scarlet ruffles.
“Sophie, where did you get that? Its inappropriate. Do you even know what kind of girls wear things like that?”
“I dont care! I bought it on sale for Halloween. Dad gave me the money.” She pulled out a pair of red stilettos. “Perfect, right?” She slipped them on, swaying her hips as she strutted past me. “Jacks going to lose his mind when he sees me.”
“Youre not going anywhere,” I said quietly.
“What?” She spun around, eyes blazing. “Since when do you get a say? Look at youa proper failure! Dad left you, and no ones bothered since!”
“Failure,” she repeated, relishing the cruelty.
Something inside me snapped. Before I could stop myself, my hand flew outa sharp crack echoed as my palm met her cheek. I stormed out, slamming the door behind me, her wails following me down the hall.
“You evil cow! I hate you! Youll regret this!” she screamed, voice shrill as a wounded animal.
I locked myself in the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. Staring into the mirror, I let out a bitter laugh. *Failure. Really? Ive got a job I love, a cosy flat, Im not bad-looking but I cant get through to my own daughter. Ever since she turned twelve, its like shes a strangerbackchatting, sneaking cigarettes, twisting every word I say. The vicar reckons its just teenage pride. Maybe hes right. I even saw a therapist, but none of their advice helps. Every day, it gets worse. Like Im her enemy, not her mum. If only she knew how much I love her. How my heart aches for her. And now Ive hit her. What do I even do?*
I cracked the door openSophie was on the phone, voice giddy. *”Jackll be there. I promised him Id come…”*
*Jack. I remember him in Year 3scrawny, big-eyed, like a tadpole. Now hes some sort of prince. No wonder all the girls fancy him, and Sophies no exception. Not that I blame themshes beautiful.*
I sighed, double-locked the front door, and hid the keys. *No way shes going out tonight. Jack can wait. And Halloweenits all devils nonsense anyway.*
I tiptoed toward my room, but Sophie heard me. She burst into the hall, face twisted with fury. “Ill never forgive you! Ill sue you! Jump out the window if I have to, but Im leaving tonight! You dont understand lovehes waiting for me!”
“If Jack really loves you, hell wait as long as it takes,” I said gently, searching her face. *My poor girl. How do I fix this?*
“Whatre you staring at, you stupid cow?” she spat. “Ill call Dadhell take me himself!”
“Go ahead,” I said. “But youre not stepping foot outside. The doors locked.”
“Oh, is that so?” Her rage dissolved into something colder. “Fine. Youll regret this.”
I heard her kick off the heels, then another hushed phone call. A low, ominous laugh slithered out from under her door.
*No need to go out. Halloweens come to us.* I wiped my tears, swallowed a sleeping pill. *Maybe tomorrow will be easier.*
—
The alarm blared. Groggy, I washed up and started breakfast. Sophie and I never stayed angry for longmorning coffee usually smoothed things over.
But not today.
She marched past the table, stone-faced, grabbed her birth certificate, and left without a word.
All day, I shoved thoughts of our fight aside, but leaving work, I couldnt think of anything else. *Hows Sophie? Has she forgiven me? What do I even say? Should I apologise for slapping her? If only she knew how her words cut. My hearts been achinglast ECG wasnt great. Maybe well talk over tea and biscuits tonight. Just gotta hang on.*
Relieved, I stopped at the bakery for her favourite éclairs.
“Love! I got your treats! Truce?” I called as I walked in. Silence.
The kitchen was empty. Her untouched breakfast sat on the counter.
*Better a bad peace than a good quarrel,* I thought, dialling her numberbut my phone rang before I could. A strangers number.
“Mrs. Emily Hart?” A womans clipped voice. “Valerie Cooper, Child Services. Your daughter filed a report of abuse. Weve taken her into temporary care pending court proceedings.”
“What?! Abuse? Thats” My throat closed.
“Given the risk to her welfare, shell remain in emergency housing until the hearing.”
“What hearing?!”
“To terminate your parental rights.”
“You cant”
“We can. And we will.” The line went dead.
—
After frantic calls, a friend recommended a solicitor. His voice was weary. “This is serious. If theyve got witnesses its an uphill battle.”
“Ill fight it.”
“Itll cost you.”
I rang Sophies dad.
After a long silence, he sighed. “You shouldnt have hit her. Or stopped her going out. Jack was therenothing wouldve happened.”
“Clubs serve alcohol! Drugs! Shes underage!”
“Dont be daft. They let anyone in with cashand I gave her plenty.”
“Then help me pay the solicitor!”
“Why? Youre a terrible mother. Once you lose custody, Margot and I will take her.”
“Margots barely older than Sophie!”
“At least she wont slap her.” Click.
—
Heart hammering, I gulped down valium. By dawn, I remembered a loan offer. At the bank, they dragged it outbut finally approved a mortgage loan. The interest was obscene, but I had no choice.
—
A week later, Sophie was still in care. The new school drove her past our house. Once, she saw mered-eyed, frail. Pity flickered, then died when she remembered the locked door.
The downstairs neighbours, Linda and her husband, testified against me. *”The girl often cried Wed seen Emily stumbling, clearly drunk.”* Sophie knew I only staggered when exhaustedbut stayed silent.
Jack stopped answering her calls. Then rang to say if shed betray her mum, shed betray him too.
At court, Sophie wasnt thereValerie submitted a note claiming she was “too distressed.” My solicitor fought hard, but the judge sided with Child Services.
*”Emily Hart is hereby stripped of parental rights. Child support will be”*
The gavel fell. My solicitor vowed to appeal.
Valerie smirked as my legs gave way. The ambulance came too late.
—
That evening, Valerie visited Sophie with a box of dates. “We won. Youll move to a childrens home soonmaybe even get adopted!”
“What?! I want to go home!”
“After what you accused her of?”
“I just wanted to scare her! Make her back off!”
“Well, you scared her to death.”
Sophie froze. “What?”
“Heart attack. My condolences.”
“Youre lying!”
Valeries face
