**The Call That Changed Everything**
Emily stood by the window, staring into the dark outline of the garden.
*The streetlights are out again. It’s already ten, and Sophie still isnt home. If only she knew how worried I am. Shes only fourteen. Yet she manipulates her father like an adult, and he believes every word she says, handing her money at the drop of a hat.*
The gate slammed, and familiar footsteps echoed under the archway. *Sophie*Emilys heart leapt, stepping back from the window before her daughter could spot her. If Sophie saw her watching, another shouting match was inevitable.
“Mum, I’m home!” Sophie called from the doorway.
“Got anything to eat?”
“Arent you going to say hello first?” Emily moved to kiss her cheek, but Sophie dodged and darted into her room, yelling over her shoulder,
“Im starving! I dont have time for this!”
“And where exactly are you rushing off to at this hour? Its past ten,” Emily said, her nerves tightening, sensing another fight brewing.
“Here we go again,” Sophie muttered just loud enough to be heard. “Im almost fifteenIm not a child!”
She began flinging clothes from her wardrobe onto the floor, hunting for the right dress. Emily watched helplessly.
*Where do I find the right words? How do I stop her?*
“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, edged with red ruffles.
“Sophie, where did you get that? Its indecent! Do you know the kind of girls who wear things like that?”
“I dont care! I bought it on sale for Halloween. Dad gave me the money.”
She yanked out a pair of towering red stilettos.
“Brilliant, right?” She slipped them on and strutted past Emily, swaying her hips. “Tom will lose his mind when he sees me.”
“Youre not going anywhere,” Emily said quietly.
“What?!” Sophie whipped around.
“Since when do you get a say? Look at you! Youre a failure! Dad left you, and no one else wants you either!”
She spat the word *failure* like it was poison.
Emily recoiled, then struck outa sharp slap across Sophies cheek. She stormed out, slamming the door behind her as Sophies wails erupted.
“You *witch*! I *hate* you! Youll regret this!”
Emily locked herself in the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. She stared at her reflection, bitterness twisting her lips.
*Failure. As if I havent done well for myself. A job I love, a cosy flat, and Im not exactly hard to look at. But with SophieI cant find the words. Ever since she turned twelve, its like she became a stranger. Backtalk, sneaking cigarettes. Everything I say, she fights. I even spoke to the vicarhe said its pride. I agreed. But what do I do? I saw a therapist, got all this advice, none of it worked. Every day, we grow further apart. 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. Now what? Dont cry. Dont you dare cry.*
She opened the door, catching Sophies excited phone chatter.
*”Toms gonna be there. I promised him”*
*Tom. I remember hima scrawny little thing in primary school. Now hes tall, handsome. No wonder all the girls fancy him. And my Sophies caught his eye. Then again, who wouldnt? Shes beautiful.*
Emily sighed, bolted the front door, and hid the keys. *Shes not going out tonight. No way. Tom can wait. And Halloweenall that nonsense about ghosts and ghouls.*
She tiptoed toward her room, but Sophie heard her and stormed into the hall.
“Ill *never* forgive you! Ill *sue* you!” Her face twisted with hatred. “Ill jump out the window if I have to! Toms *waiting* for me! I *promised* him!”
“If Tom really loves you, hell wait as long as it takes,” Emily said softly, searching her daughters face. *My poor girl. How do I help you?*
“What are you staring at, you stupid cow?” Sophie shrieked. “Ill call Dadhell drive me himself!”
“Go ahead,” Emily said. “But youre not leaving this house. The doors locked.”
Sophies anger snapped into eerie calm. “Fine. Youll regret this.”
Emily listened as Sophie kicked off her shoes and resumed her call, her laughter dark and mocking.
*No need to go out. Halloweens come to us.* Emily wiped her tears, swallowed a sleeping pill. *Maybe tomorrow will be easier.*
—
The alarm blared. Emily washed up and started breakfast. She wasnt one for grudges, and Sophie usually cooled off by morning. But not today.
Sophie marched past the table, stone-faced, snatched her birth certificate, and left.
All day, Emily pushed thoughts of their fight asideuntil leaving work, when nothing else mattered.
*How is she? Has she forgiven me? What do I say? Should I apologise for hitting her? Or would that make it worse? If only she knew how much her words hurt. My heart hasnt been right since my last ECG. Ill make tea, well talk, and everything will be fine. Just hold on.*
She bought Sophies favourite éclairs.
“Love! I got your favourite! Lets make up!” No answer.
Odd.
The kitchen was empty. Sophies untouched sandwiches sat on the counter.
*Better a bad peace than a good quarrel.* She dialled Sophies numberjust as her phone rang. Unknown caller.
“Emily Parker?” A womans metallic voice. “Valerie Atkins. Social Services. Your daughter filed a complaint about abuse. Weve taken her into care pending court proceedings.”
“What?!” Emilys blood froze. “Thats impossible!”
“Your daughter is at a temporary shelter for her safety. A judge will decide on custody.”
“*Custody?!*”
“You struck your child. Or have you forgotten?”
“How *dare* you!” Emily gasped.
“We *dare* when childrens rights are violated. See you in court.”
“*Where is she?!*” The line went dead.
—
Valerie Atkins visited Sophie that evening with a pack of Snickers.
“Compensation for your trauma. Dont worryshell pay.”
Sophie chewed her lip. “Pay how?”
“Shell lose custody.”
Sophie stiffened. “Waittheres a *trial*?”
“You signed the complaint. Witnesses will back you. That photo of your red cheek? Pity no bruise stayed. But itll still sway the judge.”
“II just wanted to scare her! So shed let me do what I want!”
Valeries eyes hardened. “Too late now.”
—
Emily emptied her savings for a lawyer. Sophies father refused to help.
“*You* hit her. Shouldve let her go clubbing. Tom was there.”
“*Shes fourteen!*”
“Not my problem.”
—
Sophie spent a week in care. Meals were good, rules laxbut boredom gnawed at her.
One morning, the car passed her old street. She spotted Emilypale, tear-streaked, aged overnight. A pang of guilt hit, then faded.
*She locked me in. She hit me.*
Neighbours testified against Emily. *”The girl cried often. Emily stumbled home drunk.”* Sophie knew it was exhaustion, but stayed silent.
Tom stopped answering her calls.
“You betrayed your mum. Youll betray me too.”
—
At the trial, Emily swayed, clutching her chest.
*”Drunk, even in court,”* a neighbour sneered.
Two hours later, the judge ruled: *”Emily Parker is stripped of parental rights. Child support will be enforced.”*
Emily collapsed. The ambulance came too late.
—
Valerie brought Sophie persimmons that night.
“Youll move to a childrens home. Maybe get adopted.”
Sophies breath hitched. “*What?!* I want to go *home*!”
“You *cant*.”
“You said youd just scare her!”
Valeries mask slipped. “You scared her to *death*.”
Sophies world shattered. “*Mums dead?!*”
“She had a weak heart. Not my fault.”
Sophie wailed, clawing at her hair. “She was the *best* mum! I *need
