I’ll leave you and you’ll never see the child again!” screamed Jane. “I want us to have a normal family—no outsiders!

“I’m leaving you, and you’ll never see the child again!” shouted Joanna. “I want us to have a normal family! No outsiders!”

“Joanna, calm down! There are no outsiders in our family!” Alexander tried to soothe his wife. “Emily is our daughter too!”

“Alex, let’s just send Emily back to the orphanage!”

“Have you lost your mind? ‘Send her back’? What are you saying?” Alexander stared at Joanna in disbelief.

“It’s simplewe just take her back! We’re having our own child soon; why do we need someone else’s?”

“Jo! Maybe this is Gods way of rewarding us for helping a little orphan find a home! You were the one who insisted on adopting her!”

“I never thought wed have our ownthats why I pushed for it. What kind of family doesnt have children?”

Five-year-old Emily stood outside her parents’ bedroom, unable to believe what shed heard. She wasnt theirs? They wanted to send her back to the orphanage?

Tears streamed down her face. Shed been so happy about the baby brother or sister on the way and now, because of it, shed lose her parents.

As if sensing something, Alex got up and walked to the door. Behind it stood Emily, crying.

“Daddy, am I not yours?” Her big eyes filled with fear as she looked up at him.

“Of course you are, sweetheart!” Alex scooped her into his arms. “Youre our daughter!”

“But you said you want to send me back! That means Im not really yours!” Emily stubbornly wiped her tears.

“Yes, we brought you home from the orphanage, but that doesnt mean youre not ours! We love you so much! Mummys just hormonal because of the baby Come on, lets get you to bed.”

***

“Im leaving you, and youll never see the child again!” Joanna screamed. “I want a proper familyno outsiders!”

“Joanna, please! There are no outsiders here!” Alexander pleaded. “Emily is our daughter!”

“I didnt give birth to her! Shes not mine!” Joannas anger flared. “Choose: her or me!”

Alex helped pack Emilys things.

“Youll stay with Gran for a while, just until Mummy calms down,” he told her. “Once the babys here, shell come around, and well bring you home. Alright?”

Emily nodded.

Shed agree to anything if it meant avoiding the orphanage. Besides, she loved Gran. Gran was kind and always had treats for her.

“Gran, if Mummy tries to send me away can I just live with you instead?” Emily asked as soon as they arrived.

Lydia Edwards gave her son a stern look. He shrugged helplessly.

“Joannas hormones are all over the place!”

“Of course, my darling!” Gran helped Emily out of her coat. “But Mummy wont send you awayyoure her daughter! Shes just stressed, thats all.”

***

Two months passed. Emily stayed with Gran while her father visited less often, torn between work and the hospital where Joanna was on bed rest.

One morning, as Gran made breakfast, Emily stared out the window. Spotting her fathers car, she gasped.

“Gran! Daddys here!”

“This early?” Gran frowned.

He never came before lunch. Sensing trouble, she told Emily to stay in the kitchen and went to meet him.

“Joanna didnt make it last night. The labour she didnt pull through. The baby either.” Alexander sank onto the hallway bench, exhausted.

They sat in silence in the kitchen, untouched tea cooling in their cups.

“Mum, Im taking Emily home. Its time.”

“If you need me I can stay with you for a while,” Lydia offered.

“Thanks, Mum”

***

Emily admired her new hair ribbons. Soon, shed be a proper schoolgirl! Her uniform and bright backpack waited eagerly.

The front door clicked open. Daddy!

“Daddy!” She ran to greet himbut he wasnt alone. A petite woman stood beside him.

“Sweetheart, this is Liz. Shes going to live with us!” Alexander forced a smile.

“Hello, Emily!” Liz held out a bouquet. “For your first day of school.”

“Hi.” Emily ignored the flowers and stomped to her room.

“Dont take it personally,” Alexander murmured to Liz. “Shes really sweet, once you get to know her.”

“Im sure well be friends,” Liz replied.

“Yeah, right!” Emily slammed her door.

Soon after, Alexander and Liz married quietly. When he was offered a promotion, he disappeared into work, leaving Liz to care for Emily.

Liz tried everythinghelping with homework, attending parents evenings, taking her to films and cafés. Eventually, Emily softened. The house felt peaceful again.

But at the end of the school year, another blow came: Liz was pregnant. Emily locked herself in her room, sobbing.

“Emily, please dont cry!” Liz begged through the door. “I love you! Id never give you away! Youll always be mine!”

“Really?” Emily emerged, tear-streaked.

“Of course!” Liz hugged her tight. “Youre my childmy first! Id never let you go.”

Months later, Emily cradled her baby brother, amazed at how tiny he was.

“Mum, look how funny he is!” The word slipped out before she realised.

Liz hugged her, hiding happy tears.

Two more years passed.

Emily was in Year 4 when tragedy struck: Alexander died in a car crash. She and Liz moved through chores, caring for little Kyle in silence.

Talking would bring tears. Kyle, too young to understand, grew fussy.

One evening, after hed fallen asleep, Liz finally spoke.

“Emily, we cant go on like this. We have to keep living. Daddys gone, but were still here. Lets stop hurting. Okay?”

“Okay.” Emily agreed. Mum was rightDaddy wasnt coming back.

But trouble never comes alone. Just as they decided to move forward, the doorbell rang.

A stern woman introduced herself as a social worker and demanded Emily pack for the childrens homeshe had no legal parents now.

“What? And me?” Liz protested.

“Show me the adoption papers,” the woman snapped. There were none. “Exactly. Grans too old to care for her, and youre no one to her. Come on, Emily.”

Unlike Liz, Emily didnt cry. She didnt care what happened next. Her worst fear had come trueshe was alone.

“Ill get you back!” Liz shouted as Emily was led away. But Emily didnt believe her.

Who wanted an orphan? When Daddy was alive, shed been loved. Now, she was nothing. Especially not to Liz, who had her own child.

Liz visited often, but Emily refused to see her. Shed watch from the window as Liz waited on the bench, then walk away. Eventually, the visits stopped.

“Got tired of playing mum, huh?” Emily smirked bitterly.

Two months later

“Emily! The headmistress wants you!” A boys voice called through the door.

“What now?” Emily frowned. “I didnt even do anything!”

“Emily, congratulations!” the headmistress beamed. “Youve been placed with a family! Not a full one, but still”

“I dont want a family,” Emily muttered. “I dont have luck with them.”

“Well, lucky or not, pack your thingsyour new parents are here!”

Emily obeyed, numb. Outside, Liz stood waiting.

“What do you want?” Emily asked flatly.

“Im taking you home.”

“Ive already been adopted.”

“By me.”

“You?” Emilys voice cracked.

“Yes. I told youyoure my child, and Id never give you up. Single mothers dont get approved easily, but I proved I could provide for you. And, well bribes still exist. So were a proper family now. Come on, Kyle misses you.”

“Okay Mum.”