I was just doing my usual grocery shopping when I found a little girl sitting in my cart. She looked up at me, her eyes filled with fear, and whispered, "Don't give me back, I'm scared." In that moment, I knew everything was about to change.
I quickly filled a bottle with water, grabbed a pack of crackers, and stuffed them into my bag. I entered the address James had given to me into the GPS.
I had to reach Lily's parents before social services did. Time was running out.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
As soon as I pulled up to the house, I could tell something was wrong. The paint on the exterior was peeling, the windows were smudged with dirt, and the yard was overgrown with weeds. It was clear that no one had taken care of the place in a long time.
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I knocked on the door, and after a few moments, it slowly creaked open. A pale woman stood in the doorway, and I knew without a doubt that that had to be Lily’s mother. Exhaustion and helplessness etched her appearance.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Are you Gloria?” I asked gently, trying not to startle her.
She nodded, blinking slowly, as if even that took effort. “Yeah,” she said, her voice hoarse, almost a whisper.
“I’m Rachel,” I explained. “I’ve been taking care of your daughter, Lily.”
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