**Helplessness and Confusion**
I watched Emily leave the church with a heavy heart, yet a flicker of hope remained. Shed begged God for a child, weeping as she prayed. Ten years of marriage to William, and still no baby. Doctors said she was healthyjust a matter of time. But how much longer?
Maybe we should adopt, William suggested once, but Emily refused. She wanted to bear her own child. Then, at last, she fell pregnant. The joy was boundless, even though the pregnancy was difficult. Little Henry arrived frail and sickly, but they doted on himkeeping him sheltered, away from other children, afraid hed catch something.
By four, he had a tablet; by seven, the latest smartphone. No wish went unfulfilled. Yet as Henry grew, so did his temper. William worked long hours, while Emily catered to his every whim. If she cooked anything but his favourite meals, hed sneer, This is rubbish. I wont eat it, then dump salt into the dish.
At thirteen, he was unbearable. Its just a phase, William assured her. But when Henry hurled a brand-new phone across the roomscreaming, Only peasants use this rubbish!they exchanged uneasy glances.
Then the school called. Henry bullied teachers, mocked authority, even extorted classmates. Emily burned with shame as the headteacher spoke.
That evening, Henry stormed in, kicking off his designer trainers. I told you to stay out of my room! he snapped. Too drained to react, I let it passuntil I caught him tearing apart a £500 jacket. You went to the school, didnt you? Now buy me a better one.
I slapped him. Instantly, guilt gnawed at meuntil he called the police. The officer, baffled by our posh home, nearly left. But Henry shrieked, I know my rights! Arrest her!
Social services arrived next. Pack your things, they told him. Youre coming with us. His defiance crumbled.
Two weeks later, he returnedhumbled. Mum, Dad Im sorry. I was awful.
As we sat down to dinner, I realised: spoiling him had bred cruelty. Sometimes, losing everything teaches the hardest lessons.
