Torn From Home

I blinked down at the book in my lap, the words a jumbled mess. I'd been staring at the same page for an hour, but nothing stuck. Across the house, Marcus's mom hummed softly in the kitchen, the gentle sound grounding me. Marcus was at school.

I set the book aside, rubbing my temples. My mind kept circling back to the same questions, the same fears. How was it possible that my eyes had changed color? And why, in that moment, had I felt so powerful?

The doorbell rang, cutting through my thoughts.My heart jumped. I hadn't realized how tense I was until my hands clenched into fists.Taking a steady breath, I pushed myself up from the couch, my legs feeling heavier than they should.

Who could it be?

When I opened the door, I was met with a now familiar face the social worker assigned to my case.

"Who is it?" Marcus's mom called from the kitchen.

I stepped aside, allowing the woman to enter. "Mrs. Williams," I answered.

"Come in, please. Have a seat," Marcus's mom said as she walked out of the kitchen, her expression shifting from surprise to warmth.

A smile spread across her face. "Mrs. Williams, I didn't think I'd hear from you this soon. I hope it's good news."

I'm sorry to say this," Mrs. Williams began, her voice gentle but firm, "but the adoption won't be possible."

Marcus's mom frowned, confusion flashing across her face. "Why not? I signed all the papers. The only thing left is the final approval.

As I said, it won't be possible," Mrs. Williams repeated, her voice steady. "It has come to my attention that Liam's father has claimed legal custody."

"My… my father?" The words barely left my lips. A cold shock ran through me. That couldn't be right. I didn't have a father.

"That's not true," I said, shaking my head. "I don't have a father."

Mrs. Williams sighed. "You do, Liam."

"What?!" My voice rose, my chest tightening. "What do you mean he filed for custody?"

Across the room, Mrs. Smith shot to her feet, her expression dark with anger. "Where was he all this time? And why didn't anyone tell Liam about this?

Why am I only hearing about this now?" My voice trembled, disbelief clawing at my chest. "This… this can't be possible."

Mrs. Smith took a sharp breath, her hands clenched into fists. "I will appeal this decision. I will fight for custody. We are Liam's family now you can't just take him away from us!"

Mrs. Williams shook her head, her expression somber. "An appeal won't be possible. Custody has already been granted to Mr. Lucas."

"Lucas?" I echoed, the name foreign on my tongue.

Mrs. Williams hesitated before meeting my gaze. "Your father, Liam."

I'm only here to inform you so Liam can be ready for his flight tomorrow," Mrs. Williams said, her tone firm.

"Flight?" Mrs. Smith's voice rose in disbelief. "I haven't agreed to this!"

"You don't have a choice," Mrs. Williams said calmly. "I'll be back tomorrow to pick him up."

"Pick me up?" My voice cracked. "And what about Lucas? He's making decisions about my life, but he can't even bother to meet me first?"

Mrs. Williams sighed. "I'm sorry, Liam, but there's nothing I can do. Don't worry, you'll meet your father soon."

"I don't want to go!" My chest tightened, panic clawing at my throat. "I don't want to meet him!"

Tears blurred my vision as I turned and ran. Mrs. Smith called after me, but I didn't stop. I bolted upstairs, slamming the door behind me.

I cried myself to sleep, clutching onto the last fragments of warmth my mother had left behind. If she were here, none of this would be happening. My life had been a mess ever since she...

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the thoughts away, but the emptiness only grew.

I didn't even hear when Marcus came back from school.

It was late afternoon when I woke up to loud voices drifting up from downstairs. My head felt heavy, my body sluggish, but the tension in their voices pulled me from the haze of sleep.

I rubbed my eyes and made my way down, pausing at the bottom of the stairs. Marcus was whisper-arguing with his mom, his face tight with frustration.

They both went quiet the moment they saw me.

Marcus stopped mid-sentence, his expression shifting. Without a word, he crossed the room and pulled me into a hug.

Mrs. Smith stepped closer, her eyes soft with concern. "We're going to fight this, Liam. You're not alone in this."

I wanted to believe her, but the weight in my chest wouldn't budge.

Marcus tightened his grip around me. "No matter what happens, you'll always have us."

I let out a shaky laugh, but it was broken by the tears spilling over despite my best efforts. I didn't know what to say or how to feel.

Morning came too soon. The air was heavy with unspoken words as we moved around the house in silence. No one wanted to talk about what was coming.

Marcus wanted to see me off, but it wasn't possible. He was already on a written warning because of the fight, and skipping school today would only make things worse for him.

"I'll call you every day," he promised, gripping my shoulders tightly. "You're not alone in this, okay?"

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. But deep down, it didn't feel that way.

Before Mrs. Williams arrived, I was tempted to run away. But where would I even go? No matter how much I wanted to escape, I had nowhere to run.

Instead, I went back to my house the one that no longer felt like home. I gathered the things that reminded me of my mom, clutching them like lifelines. Her favorite scarf, a framed picture of us, the bracelet she always wore. Small things, but they were all I had left of her.

When Mrs. Williams finally arrived, I bid Mrs. Smith goodbye, tears streaming down both our faces. She held me tight, whispering promises to fight for me, to not let this be the end.

I wanted to believe her.

During the flight, Mrs. Williams and I barely spoke. She glanced at me a few times as if searching for the right words, but in the end, she said nothing. Maybe there was nothing left to say.

I clutched my mother's bracelet tightly, unwilling to let go. I didn't want to leave her behind. And I didn't want to meet him. My mother never spoke about him why should I have to face him now?

When we arrived, Mrs. Williams led me to a waiting car. She hesitated before pulling me into a brief hug. 'Everything will be alright,' she assured me.

Then she left. And I was alone.