**The Call That Changed Everything**
Emily stood by the window, peering into the dark outline of the backyard.
*The 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 at the drop of a hat.*
The gate slammed, and familiar footsteps echoed through the archway. *Sophie.* Emily stepped back from the windowGod forbid her daughter spotted her lurking there. That would only lead to another row.
“Mum, Im home!” Sophie called from the doorway. “Got anything to eat?”
“Arent you going to say hello first?” Emily tried to kiss her daughters cheek, but Sophie dodged her, darting into her room.
“Im starving! And I dont have time for this!”
“Where are you rushing off to at this hour? Its past ten,” Emily said, bracing herself for another argument.
“Here we go again,” Sophie muttered just loud enough for her to hear. “Im practically fifteenIm not a child!” She flung clothes from her wardrobe onto the floor, hunting for the right outfit.
Emily watched helplessly. *What do I say? How do I stop her?*
“Why are you just standing there like a statue?” Sophie snapped. “Im going clubbing with the girls. Its Halloweeneveryones celebrating. Am I supposed to sit at home like some loser?”
She pulled out a dressshort, backless, with red ruffles.
“Sophie, where did you get that? Its inappropriate. Do you even know who wears things like that?”
“I dont care! It was on sale, and Dad gave me the money.”
Sophie dug out a pair of towering red heels.
“These are perfect, right?” She strutted in front of her mother, swaying her hips. “Toms going to lose his mind when he sees me.”
“Youre not going anywhere,” Emily said quietly.
Sophie whirled around. *”What?* Since when do you get a say? Look at yourselfyoure a mess! Dad left you, and no one else wanted you either!”
*”A mess.”* She savoured the cruel word.
Emily snapped. She slapped her daughter hard across the face, then stormed out, slamming the door behind her. Sophies shriek followed her down the hall.
“You *bitch!* I *hate* you! Just you wait!”
Emily locked herself in the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. She stared at her reflection. *A mess. Ive got a good job, a cosy flat, and Im not exactly hard to look at. But with Sophie its like we speak different languages. Ever since she turned twelve, shes been a stranger. Backchat, sneaking cigaretteseverything I say is wrong. The vicar says its pride. Maybe hes right. I saw a therapist, got all this advice, but none of it works. Every day, we drift further apart. To her, Im not her motherIm the enemy. If only she knew how much I love her, how my heart aches for her. And now Ive hit her. What do I do now?*
She cracked the door open. Sophie was on the phone, her voice giddy. *”Toms going to be there. I promised him”*
*Tom. I remember him from primary schooltiny, bug-eyed, like a tadpole. Now hes all grown up, and every girl fancies him. No surprise Sophies smitten. Though really, who wouldnt be? Shes gorgeous.*
Emily sighed, locked the front door from the inside, and hid the keys. *Shes not going out tonight. Not a chance. Tom will survive. And this Halloween nonsenseall that devil businessits not right.*
She tiptoed towards her room, but Sophie heard her.
“Ill *never* forgive you for this!” Her face twisted with hatred. “Ill *sue* you! Ill jump out the window if I have tobut Im leaving tonight! You dont understand *anything* about love! Hes *waiting* for me!”
“If Tom really loves you, hell wait as long as it takes,” Emily said gently. *My poor girl. How do I help you?*
“What are you staring at, you useless cow?” Sophie screeched. “Im calling Dadhell take me to the club himself!”
“Go ahead,” Emily said. “But youre not leaving this house. Ive locked the door.”
Sophie went eerily still. “Fine. Youll regret this.”
Emily heard the heels clatter to the floor, then Sophies hushed, sinister laughter as she whispered into the phone.
*No need to go looking for Halloween. Its come to us.* Emily wiped her tears, took a sleeping pill, and closed her eyes. *Maybe tomorrow will be better.*
—
The alarm blared. Emily shook off the remnants of sleep, washed up, and started breakfast. Prolonged fights werent her style, and Sophie usually cooled off by morning.
But not this time. Sophie stalked past the table, stone-faced, grabbed her birth certificate, and left without a word.
All day, Emily pushed thoughts of their fight asidebut leaving the office, her mind swirled. *Hows Sophie? Has she forgiven me? What do I 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 acting upthe last ECG wasnt great. When I get home, well have tea and biscuits, make up, and everything will be fine. Just hold on.*
Relieved, she stopped at the bakery for Sophies favourite éclairs.
“Love! I got your pastries! Truce?” Emily called as she stepped inside. Silence.
Strange. She checked the kitchen. No Sophie. The sandwiches from breakfast sat untouched.
*Better a bad peace than a good quarrel,* she thought, reaching for her phone.
It rang before she could dial. An unknown number.
“Emily Whitmore?” A womans voice, cold and metallic. “Valerie Harper. Social Services. Your daughter has filed a complaint alleging abuse. Weve taken her into temporary care.”
*”What?”* Emilys blood ran cold. “II dont understand.”
“Due to concerns for her safety, shes been placed in a residential unit pending court proceedings.”
*”Court?”*
“To determine parental rights revocation.”
“Youre taking my *daughter?* On what grounds?”
“You struck her. Or have you forgotten?”
“How *dare* you!” Emilys chest tightened.
“We *dare* when a childs rights are violated. See you in court.”
“Where *is* she? Give me the address!” The line went dead.
—
After the call, Emily rang everyone she knewno one had a clue about social services. A friend gave her a solicitors number. His voice was weary.
“Serious matter,” he said. “Whats the allegation?”
“Abuse,” she choked out.
“If your daughters statement holds and they find witnesses Im afraid youll lose.”
“What do I do?”
“Fight. But my fees are steep.”
“Ill find the money!”
She called Sophies father. He listened, then sighed.
“You brought this on yourself. Shouldnt have hit her. Shouldve let her go to the clubTom was there.”
“Its *not* safe! Alcohol, drugsshes *fourteen!*”
“Dont be naive. Money talksand I gave her plenty.”
“Then *help* me! Pay for the solicitor!”
“Why would I?”
“Shes your *daughter!*”
“And youre a terrible mother. Once you lose custody, Margot and I will take her.”
“Margots *twenty-two!* What does she know about parenting?”
“More than you. Shed never slap a child.” Click.
—
Gasping, Emily fumbled for her heart pills. She hadnt expected *this* betrayal.
That night, she racked her brain for moneythen remembered a text offering quick loans. Next morning, she went to the bank. The process dragged, but they approved the loansecured against her flat. The interest was ruinous, but she had no choice.
She hired the solicitor.
—
Sophie had been in care for a week. The food was good, the rules laxbut boredom gnawed at her. A car took her to a new school now, driving past her old home. Once, she spotted her motherpale, tear-streaked, aged overnight. A pang of guilt hit her, but the memory of the slap crushed it.
The carers kept her updated.
The neighboursLinda and her husband
