**The Call That Changed Everything**
Emily stood by the window, peering into the dark outlines of the garden.
“Those streetlights are out again. Its already ten, and Sophie still isnt home. 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 says, handing her money whenever she asks.”
The gate slammed, and familiar footsteps echoed under the archway. “Sophie!” Emilys heart leapt as she stepped back from the windowshe didnt want her daughter to see her watching, or thered be another shouting match.
“Mum, Im home!” Sophie called from the doorway.
“Any food?”
“Arent you going to say hello?” Emily moved to kiss her daughters cheek, but Sophie dodged, 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,” Emily said, already bracing for another argument.
“Youre starting again,” Sophie muttered under her breath, just loud enough to be heard. “Im practically fifteenIm not a kid!”
She began flinging clothes from her wardrobe onto the floor, searching for the right dress. Emily watched helplessly.
“What do I even say? How do I stop her?” she thought desperately.
“Why are you just standing there like a statue?” Sophie shrieked. “Im going clubbing with the girls tonight. Its Halloweeneveryones celebrating. Am I supposed to be the odd one out?”
She pulled out a short, backless dress trimmed with red lace.
“Sophie, where did you get that? Its inappropriate. Do you know the kind of girls wear things like that?”
“I dont care! I bought it on sale for Halloween. Dad gave me the money.”
Sophie tugged out a pair of towering red heels.
“Brilliant, right?” She strutted past her mother, swaying her hips. “Toms going to lose his mind when he sees me.”
“Sophie, youre not going anywhere,” Emily said quietly.
“What?!” Sophie spun around.
“Who gave you a say? How dare you tell me what to do? Look at yourself! Youre a failure! Dad left you, and no ones bothered picking up the pieces since!”
“A failure!” she repeated, savouring the cruelty.
Emily snapped. She slapped her daughter across the face, then stormed out, slamming the door behind her. A wail erupted from the room.
“You cow! I hate you! Youll regret this!” Sophie screeched.
Emily rushed into the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. Staring into the mirror, she gave a bitter smile. “A failure? Really? Ive got a job I love, a cosy flat, and Im not exactly hard on the eyes. But with Sophie its like we speak different languages. Ever since she turned twelve, its like shes a different person. Backchat, smokingeverything I say, she takes as an attack. The vicar says its pride, and I believe him. But what do I do? I even saw a therapistuseless. Every day, it gets worse. Like Im her enemy, not her mother. If only she knew how much I love her, how my heart aches for her. I hit her, and now I dont know what to do. Just dont cry.”
She opened the door and listenedSophie was on the phone, agitated. “Toms expecting me” Emily caught.
“Tom I remember him in primary school, a little tadpole of a boy. Now hes practically Prince Charming. No wonder all the girls fancy him, and Sophies no exception. Though, who wouldnt fancy her? Shes beautiful.”
Emily sighed, locked the front door from the inside, and hid the key. “Shes not going out tonight. No way. Tom can wait. And Halloween? Nothing but trouble, from what Ive heard.”
She tried slipping quietly to her room, but Sophie heard her and stormed into the hall.
“Ill never forgive you for this! Ill sue you!” she screamed, face twisted with hate. “Ill jump out the window if I have to, but Im leaving tonight! You dont understand love! Hes waiting for me!”
“If Tom really loves you, hell wait as long as it takes,” Emily said softly, gazing at her daughter. “My poor girl,” she thought. “How do I help you?”
“Stop staring, you old hag!” Sophie yelled. “Ill call Dadhell take me to the club himself!”
“Go ahead,” Emily said. “But youre not leaving this house tonight. The doors locked.”
“Oh, really?” Sophies voice turned eerily calm. “Youll regret this.”
Emily heard her kick off the heels, then resume her hushed phone conversation. Sinister giggles followed.
“No need for me to go anywhereHalloweens come to us,” she thought, wiping tears. She took a sleeping pill. “Maybe tomorrow will be easier.”
—
The alarm blared. Groggy, Emily washed her face and started breakfast. She wasnt one for grudges, and Sophie usually cooled off by morning. But not this time. Sophie marched past the table, stone-faced, grabbed her birth certificate, and left.
All day, Emily pushed thoughts of their fight asidebut leaving work, she couldnt think of anything else. “Is Sophie okay? Did she forgive me? What do I even say? Should I apologise for the slap? Or would that make it worse? If only she knew how much her words hurt. My hearts been achingthe last ECG wasnt great. Ill get home, well have tea and biscuits, make up, and itll be fine. Just hold on.”
Relieved, she stopped at the bakery and bought Sophies favourite éclairs.
“Love! I got your favourite pastries! Lets make up!” Emily called as she walked inbut silence answered.
“Odd.” She stepped into the kitchen. Sophie wasnt there. The untouched sandwiches from breakfast still sat on the counter.
“Better a bad peace than a good quarrel,” she thought, reaching for her phone.
As she dialled, an unfamiliar number flashed on the screen.
“Emily Thompson?” A womans metallic voice asked. “Valerie Clarke, Social Services. Weve received a report from your daughter regarding abuse. Weve taken her into temporary care pending court proceedings.”
“What?! II dont understand.”
“Youre being investigated for neglect and cruelty. A judge will decide on termination of parental rights.”
“Termination?! On what grounds?!”
“You assaulted your child. Or have you forgotten? Are you sober?”
“How dare you!” Emily gasped.
“We dare. Your daughters rights come first. See you in court.”
“Where is she? Give me the address!” Emily screamedbut the line went dead.
—
After the call, Valerie headed to the care home. Knocking on Sophies door, she entered to find the girl sprawled on the bed, binge-watching dramas.
“Brought you something,” Valerie said, placing a Snickers on the desk. “Compensation for emotional distress. Dont worryshell pay. People like her shouldnt have kids.”
“Whatll happen to her?” Sophie muted the TV.
“Termination of rights.”
“Good! No one should hit kids. Did you see my cheek in the photo? Lucky it didnt bruise.”
“A bruise wouldve helped our case. But even the mark of a slap will sway the judge.”
“Theres going to be a trial?” Sophie faltered.
“Of course. You signed the complaint.”
“Obviously!” Sophie jutted her chin. “She wouldnt let me go clubbingTom was waiting! Then she called my dress trash. And shes a failurethats why Dad left. He never even married her.”
Valerie said nothing. Her own husband had left herinfertile after an abortion in her youth.
—
Emily called everyone she knew, but no one understood social services. A friend recommended a solicitor. His voice was weary.
“This is serious. What are they accusing you of?”
“Abuse,” she choked.
“If your daughters complaint stands, and they find witnesses, youll lose.”
“What do I do?”
“Fight. But itll cost you.”
She called Sophies father. After a long silence, he said, “You shouldnt have hit her. Or stopped her from going out. Tom was there.”
“That club serves alcohol! And drugs! Toms not her keeper!”
“Spare me. They let anyone in with cashand I gave her plenty.”
“Then help me pay the solicitor!”
“I wont. Youre a terrible mother. Once they terminate your rights, Margot and I will take Sophie.”
“Margot? Shes only
