She Just Needs Time
Right, heres how it is. Either you help me strip Vicky of her parental rights, or I walk out that door, and you deal with this mess yourselves.
Natalie, for Gods sake! Shes your sister! My daughter! Mum threw up her hands before clutching her chest.
And what am I? Not your daughter? Natalies voice cracked with hurt. Sometimes I think Im not even a person to you Cant you see whats happening? Ive grown to love Archie like my own, and you Either you help me, or I do this alone. But I wont back down.
Mum looked away, torn. Dad just scowled at his plate, stirring his fork in silence. Understanding their silence for what it was, Natalie stood and walked to her room.
They hadnt chosen her. Not her, and not Archie.
Natalie began packing, though she didnt have much. A crushing weight pressed on her chest, but she knew this had to be done.
But how could she stay strong when a little boy clung to her legs, sobbing?
Mummy, dont go Archie begged, watching her pack her bags.
*Mummy.* That word cut deeper each time. Natalie knelt, forcing a smile as she pulled him close.
Im not leaving *you*, Archie, she whispered. Im leaving so one day, things can be better. I *will* come back. For good.
He wailed, confused why the aunt he called Mum was abandoning him. He clutched her clothes so tightly she couldnt leave until exhaustion claimed him. Only then, late that night, did she slip out onto the street.
In that moment, Natalie *hated* Vicky. She was the one whod forced them into this nightmare.
Vicky had been wild since sixteen. First, late nights. Then sleepovers at friends placesthough everyone knew what that meant. Shed stumble home drunk, smeared mascara, lipstick smudged. Sometimes in tears. And Mum and Dad coddled her, fretting, soothing, making excuses.
A pregnancy was inevitable. At seventeen, Vicky got knocked upno other way to say it. She didnt even know the fathers last name. Just some bloke from a party.
Archie was born. Quickly, Vicky realised motherhood wasnt for her. First, overnight disappearances. Then she vanished completely.
Im too young to throw my life away, shed told Natalie over the phone when pressed.
So the burden fell to Natalie. Grandpa barely spared a thought for his grandsona rattle now and then, nothing more. Grandma helped when she could, but work kept her busy.
Natalie was eighteen. She switched to part-time studies to care for the baby. From then on, she was his mother in all but nameeven christening him herself.
It was brutal. Night feeds, sleepless hours, hauling a pram up stairs, exams on no sleep. She studied when Archie napped, juggled houseworkMum and Dad were always working.
By six months, shed adjusted. Then Vicky returned, tearful, dramatic, dropping to her knees.
I was such a fool Ill change, I swear
They all believed her. Even Natalie. For a month, Vicky played mumuntil the novelty wore off. Then she bolted again, this time with Mums jewellery.
Shes struggling, Mum excused. Shell come back. She just needs time.
Natalie stopped believing. Once was chance. Twice? A pattern. But what choice did she have? Mum and Dad lived in denial, granting Vicky endless second chances. But Natalie couldnt just take Archie and vanish.
So she carried on. Studies, raising Archie, nursery runs, doctor visits. Hoping Vicky wouldnt return.
But four years later, there she was, on the doorstep.
I thought he loved me, Vicky sniffed, wide-eyed at their parents. Thought wed settle down, take Archie. But he used me. Left me broke, jobless, alone in bloody Manchestercouldnt even afford the train back
Hard to believe you starved, Natalie muttered, eyeing Vickys hips.
Mum shot her a glare. The spotlight swung back to poor, tragic Vicky.
Worse came when Natalie brought Archie home from nursery. Grandma nudged him toward Vicky. He cried, hiding behind Natalie.
Dont be silly, Grandma cooed. This is your *mummy*.
Shes *not*! *Shes* Mummy! He clung to Natalie.
Natalies your aunt. Vickys your real mother.
Natalies heart shatteredfor Archie, for Mums words, for the cycle starting again.
And it *did* repeat.
Vicky leeched off them for two months, jobless.
Wholl hire me with Archie? shed sneered when Natalie asked. Im basically on maternity leave.
Then she vanished again. No explanation. Just photos later with a new boyfrienda man twenty years older.
*Another drunk,* Natalie thought. Hope died then. But what could she do?
She confided in her friend, Nina.
Easy. Strip her of rights, Nina shrugged. Social servicesll see shes never here. Then sort it out.
Natalie froze.
What if they take Archie? And Mum and Dadll go mad
Then wait for Vicky to wreck his head again. Your call. But *she* could demand *his* money later. Andgirl to girlwheres *your* life in all this?
Natalie *had* forgotten herself. Dates fled when they learned she had a kid. Only Liam, from her course, stayed. But shed brushed him offtoo tangled in family chaos.
After that talk, she gave him a chance. With Liam, she felt *light*. He listened. Helped.
So after her ultimatum to her parents, she went to him. Just to vent. But he surprised her.
Told you beforelets move in. Maybe nows the time.
I cant. Archie
So? Well make it work.
But hes not even
Nat, he cut in. I knew what I signed up for. If hes family to you, hes family to me.
Something thawed in her chest. A frail hope: maybe life wasnt just cleaning up Vickys messes.
The next six months were hell. Social workers, parenting courses, paperwork. Worseshe couldnt take Archie yet. He cried, begged, waited.
Youd steal your sisters child? Mum hissed.
Like she ever wanted him, Natalie shot back.
Banned from her parents, labelled a villainonly Liam and friends stood by her.
But after the storm, calm.
Years later, Natalie watched Archie teach his little sister, Emily, to kick a football. Liam squeezed her shoulder. In that moment, she knew it had all been worth it.
She hadnt heard from Vicky in yearsdidnt care to. Same old cycle: men, parties. Losing Archie had just been another sob story for their parents.
They never forgave Natalie. Fine. *Let them coddle Vicky forever,* she thought. *Ill care for the ones who matter.*
