**The Call That Changed Everything**
Emma stood by the window, staring into the dark outline of the garden.
*”The streetlights are out again. It’s past ten, and Sophie still isnt home. If only she knew how worried I am. Shes only fourteen, but she manipulates her father like a grown womanhe gives her whatever she wants, money at the snap of her fingers.”*
The gate slammed shut, and familiar footsteps echoed through the archway. *”Sophie,”* Emma thought, relieved as she sprang back from the windowGod forbid her daughter caught her watching, or another argument would be inevitable.
“Mum, I’m home!” Sophie shouted from the doorway. “Got anything to eat?”
“Shouldnt we say hello first?” Emma tried to kiss her daughters cheek, but Sophie dodged her, darting into her room.
“Im starving! I dont have time for this!”
“And where exactly are you rushing off to at this hour? Its past ten,” Emma said, anxiety creeping into her voice.
“Here we go again,” Sophie muttered just loud enough for her to hear. “Im practically fifteen, Mum. Im not a child!” She flung clothes from her wardrobe, searching for the right outfit.
Emma watched helplessly. *Where do I even start? How do I make her stop?*
“What are you just standing there for?” Sophie snapped. “Im going clubbing with the girls. Its Halloweeneveryones celebrating. Why shouldnt I?”
She pulled out a dressshort, backless, trimmed with red lace.
“Sophie, where on earth did you get that? Its inappropriate. Do you know the kind of people wear things like that?”
“I dont care! I got it on sale for Halloween. Dad gave me the money.” She yanked out a pair of stilettosbright red, towering.
“Perfect, right?” She wriggled into the outfit and strutted past her mother, swaying her hips. “Jakes going to lose his mind when he sees me.”
“Youre not going anywhere,” Emma said quietly.
“What?” Sophie spun around.
“You heard me.”
“Since when do you get a say?” Sophies voice turned icy. “Look at you! Youre a failure! Dad left you, and no ones wanted you since!”
Emmas hand flew before she could stop herselfa sharp slap echoed through the room. Sophies shriek followed her as Emma stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
“You bitch! I hate you! Youll regret this!” Sophies screams turned shrill, like a wounded animal.
Emma locked herself in the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. She stared at her reflectionpale, trembling. *A failure? I have a good job. A comfortable home. Ive never been unattractive. But Sophie… I lost her the moment she turned twelve. Defiant, sneaking cigarettes, twisting every word I say into a fight. The vicar said its rebellion. The therapist gave useless advice. Every day, we drift further apart. As if Im the enemy, not her mother. If she only knew how much I love her. How my heart aches for her. I hit her. What do I do now?*
She opened the door, catching Sophies excited whispers*”Jake will be there… I promised…”*
*Jake. I remember himtiny, wide-eyed, like a tadpole in primary school. Now hes every girls dream. No wonder Sophies smitten. And why wouldnt he be? Shes beautiful.*
Emma sighed, double-locking the front door and hiding the keys. *Shes not going out. Not tonight. Jake can wait. And Halloween? Nothing but trouble.*
She crept toward her room, but Sophie burst into the hallway.
“Ill never forgive you! Ill sue you!” Her face twisted with hatred. “Ill jump out the window if I have to! Hes waiting for me! I promised!”
“If Jake truly loves you, hell wait as long as it takes,” Emma said softly, searching her daughters eyes. *My poor girl. How do I help you?*
“What are you staring at, you cow?” Sophie spat. “Ill call Dadhell take me himself!”
“Call him,” Emma said. “But youre not leaving this house. The doors locked.”
Sophie went eerily still. “Fine. Youll regret this.”
Emma listened as shoes clattered, then Sophies hushed, venomous laughter spilled from her room. *Halloween came to us tonight.* She wiped her tears, swallowed a sleeping pill, and prayed tomorrow would be easier.
***
The alarm blared. Emma washed her face, made breakfast. Their fights never lastedSophie always cooled off by morning.
But not this time.
Sophie marched past the table, stone-faced, grabbing her birth certificate on the way out.
All day, Emma pushed the fight from her minduntil leaving work, when nothing else mattered. *Is she okay? Has she forgiven me? Should I apologise? If she knew how her words cut. How my heart hurts. The last ECG wasnt good. Well have tea. Well make up.*
She bought Sophies favourite éclairs.
“Sweetheart! I got your cakes! Lets make up!” No answer. The kitchen was empty. The sandwiches from breakfast untouched.
Emma dialled Sophies numberbut her phone rang first. An unknown number.
“Emma Whitmore?” A cold, metallic voice. “Valerie Harper. Social Services. Your daughter filed a report of abuse. Weve taken her into emergency care.”
“What?” Emmas breath vanished.
“Due to immediate risk, shes been placed in temporary housing pending court proceedings.”
“Court? For what?”
“Termination of parental rights.”
Emmas knees buckled. She called everyone she knew. A friend recommended a barristerhis voice weary, his fees staggering.
“Youll lose if they have witnesses.”
“Ill find the money!”
She called Sophies father.
“You hit her,” he said flatly. “You shouldve let her go. Jake was there.”
“Theres alcohol! Drugs! Shes underage!”
“Dont be naive. Clubs dont care if you pay. And I gave her the money.”
“Help me. I need a solicitor.”
“Why would I?”
“Youre her father!”
“And youre a terrible mother. When you lose custody, my wife and I will take her.”
*His wife. Twenty-three. A child herself.*
Emma borrowed against the houseextortionate interest, but she had no choice. She hired the barrister.
***
A week later, Sophie sat in the care home. The food was good. The rules were loose. But boredom gnawed at her.
The staff drove her past her old house once. She saw Emmafrail, aged, eyes red. Guilt pricked her, but the memory of that slap smothered it.
The downstairs neighbours had testified. *”The girl cried often. Her mother staggered home, likely drunk.”* Sophie knew Emma only staggered from exhaustion. She stayed silent.
Jake stopped answering her calls. Then he called her himself. *”If youd betray your mum, youd betray anyone.”*
They didnt take her to court. Valerie said she was “unwell.”
Emma came with her barrister. The neighbours sneered. *”Look at herdrunk already. No wonder shes broke.”*
Two hours. The gavel fell.
*”Parental rights terminated. Alimony granted.”*
Emma collapsed. The ambulance came too late.
***
That evening, Valerie brought Sophie persimmons. “You won. Youre going to a childrens home.”
“What? No! I want to go home!”
“You signed the papers.”
“I just wanted to scare her!”
“Well, you scared her to death.”
Sophies world shattered. “Mums dead?”
Valeries pity was paper-thin. “She brought it on herself.”
Sophie screamed, sobbing. “She was the best mum! I didnt mean it!”
Valerie left. Sophie grabbed her coat.
“Try to run. Security heres tighter than a vault.”
The door clicked shut. Sophies wails echoed.
Valerie checked her reflection. *Time for a new fur coat.* But the weight in her chest stayed.
Outside, snow fell softly. Thenglass shattered.
Sophie landed like a crimson stain on the snow.
***
She survivedparalysed for life.
Her fathers new wife refused to take her in.
The bank sued herEmmas debt now hers.
Jake visits sometimes.
