Tori’s world falls apart when her cruel parents abandon her and her two younger brothers, leaving them to fend for themselves. Years later, as she begins to rebuild her life, her parents knock on her door, smiling as if nothing had happened. Why have they returned now, after so many years, and what do they want from Tori?
I watched in shock as my parents rushed around the living room gathering their belongings. ‘We’ll call child services and they’ll take you away,’ my father barked.
My younger brothers huddled close to me, their faces reflecting confusion and fear.
‘Tori, what’s going on?’ Lucas asked, his eyes wide with fear.
He was only six years old, and my heart was breaking with fear.
‘I don’t know, Lucas,’ I said, hugging him tightly. ‘But everything will be fine. I promise.’
The thing was, I was only 15, and I had no idea what was going on.
Ben, who was only five, started to cry. ‘I don’t want to go, Tori. I want to stay with you.’
My heart ached for my younger brothers.
I wanted to protect them, to keep us all together, but I felt so powerless.
The doorbell rang, and my heart sank even lower.
It was Child Protective Services, just as my father had threatened.
A woman with a kind face entered the living room. She introduced herself, but I didn’t catch her name. My thoughts were racing too fast.
‘I’m here to help,’ she said softly. ‘I know this is difficult, but we have to take you to a safe place.’
Lucas pressed himself closer to me, and I held him tight. ‘Please don’t take us away,’ I begged. ‘We can stay here, we’ll be fine.’
The woman sighed, her eyes sad. ‘I’m very sorry, Tori. It’s not in my power.’
Tears streamed down my face as we were led out of the house.
Lucas and Ben were crying too, their little hands clutching mine until they were pulled away. It felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest.
We were put into different cars, each one heading to its own foster family.
I watched my brothers through the car window, their tear-stained faces disappearing from view.
The trip to the foster family was a continuous stream of tears and confusion.
I repeated my father’s cold words in my head and wondered how this could have happened.
How could they just abandon us like that?
The next chapter of my life began with the Thompson foster family, and it turned out to be no better.
From the moment I arrived, I felt like a stranger.
Mr and Mrs Thompson hardly looked at me, treating me like a burden rather than a child in need.
I could feel their cold stares and hear the way they spoke to me — always curt and dismissive.
It was clear that no one wanted me there.
‘Don’t forget to finish your chores, Tori,’ Mrs. Thompson would say, her voice devoid of any warmth.
‘Yes, ma’am,’ I would reply without looking up.
The loneliness was suffocating.
I missed Lucas and Ben terribly and wondered if they were all right and if they missed me too.
The days dragged on, each one replaced by another, filled with chores and silence.
There was no warmth or comfort, only the cold indifference of a family that didn’t care.
One fine day, I couldn’t take it anymore. And then I decided to run away.
I thought I could find my brothers or at least find a place where I wouldn’t feel lonely. The first time I ran away, I didn’t get very far. The police found me and brought me back.
The Thompsons were furious.
‘Why do you keep trying to run away?’ Mr. Thompson snapped. ‘Do you even realise how much trouble you’re causing?’
‘I’m sorry,’ I mumbled, but I knew I wasn’t. I just wanted to leave.
Every time I ran away, the same thing happened. I was brought back, scolded and ignored even more. But I didn’t give up.
One rainy evening, I made up my mind. I packed a small bag with a few belongings and slipped out the window.
Choosing the unknown of the streets over the cold indifference of the Thompsons was the hardest decision of my life.
Life on the streets was harsh and unforgiving. I found temporary shelter in an old abandoned trailer. The door was broken and the roof was leaking, but it gave me some shelter from the elements.
Every day that followed was difficult.
I took on any odd job I could find, as long as it paid a few dollars. I washed cars, delivered groceries, and even helped out at a local diner. I barely had enough money to get by, but I managed to survive somehow.
The hardest part was not knowing where my brothers were.
I missed Lucas and Ben terribly. I visited them whenever I could, but they moved so often that it became increasingly difficult.
One day, when I went to visit Ben, something heartbreaking happened.
When I knocked on the door, a stranger answered.
‘Excuse me, may I see Ben?’ I asked.
The woman shook her head. ‘No, they moved out last week. I think they moved to another state.’
My heart sank. ‘Do you know where they went?’ I asked desperately.
She looked at me with pity. ‘I’m sorry, but I don’t know.’
I felt like I had let Ben down. I sat down on the steps of the house and cried.
I had promised Ben that we would be together, and now it seemed like that promise had been shattered.
Days turned into weeks, and I clung to the hope that I would find my brothers again. Lucas was still in town, and I visited him whenever I could.
But the fear of losing him too was constantly on my mind.
A few months later, I got a job as a cleaner in a small shop on the outskirts of town. The work was routine: washing floors and cleaning shelves, but it was stable.
I saved every penny I earned. I lived frugally, spending only on the bare necessities.
One day, while I was sweeping the floor, the shop owner, Mr Jenkins, noticed my diligence. ‘Tori, you’re a hard worker,’ he said. ‘Have you thought about going back to school?’
I nodded. ‘Yes, sir. I want to go to college, but money is tight.’
Mr Jenkins smiled kindly. ‘Keep saving, and you’ll make it. I believe in you.’
His words gave me hope. I continued to work hard and eventually saved enough money to enrol in community college. But juggling work and school was not easy. My days began with cleaning the shop, and my evenings were filled with classes and homework.
There were times when I felt overwhelmed, but I kept fighting. I remembered the promise I had made to myself and my brothers. I had to achieve something. I couldn’t let them down.
Years passed, and I finally graduated from university with a degree in business administration. With my new qualification, I got a job as a sales assistant in a large clothing store.
Starting at the bottom wasn’t easy, but I was no stranger to hard work. I came in early, stayed late, and always gave it my all.
Over time, my manager, Miss Carter, noticed my dedication.
‘Tori, you’re doing a great job,’ she said one day as we were restocking the shelves together. ‘I’m promoting you to supervisor.’
‘Thank you, Miss Carter!’ I said, excited and grateful. ‘I promise I’ll do my best.’
When I became a manager, I faced new challenges and responsibilities. I worked hard, learned from my mistakes, and asked for advice. My efforts paid off, and after a few years, I became the store manager.
But it seemed that fate had decided to test me once again. Just as I was settling into my new flat, there was a knock at the door.
I opened the door and saw my parents, Charles and Linda, standing there with suitcases in their hands, smiling as if nothing had happened.
‘Hello, dear!’ my mother said cheerfully.
I stood there, frozen in bewilderment. How could they have the nerve to show up here after all these years?
‘Can we come in?’ my father asked, still smiling.
Still in shock, I stepped aside to let them in. They sat in the kitchen, and a heavy silence hung between us. I made coffee, a thousand questions swirling in my head.
As they sipped their drinks, my mother finally spoke. ‘We were hoping you would let us stay here for a while, until we get back on our feet.’
I stared at her, stunned. ‘You want to live with me?’
‘Yes,’ they both replied, almost in unison.
‘Why? How did you even find me?’ I asked, trying my best to keep my voice steady.
‘Oh, dear, what does it matter? We’re family, and family should help each other, right?’
I couldn’t hold back my anger any longer.
‘Really?’ I snapped. ‘Since you arrived, you haven’t asked about my brothers once. You just showed up here, expecting me to help you after you abandoned us? Where were your ideas about family helping each other when we were struggling on the streets?’
They looked stunned, but I didn’t give them a chance to respond. I got up and went upstairs to get the old ten-pound note my father had given me years ago. Returning to the kitchen, I held it out to them.
‘I hope this helps you as much as it helped me back then. Now get out of my house and never come back.’
Their smiles faded as the reality of my words sank in. Without another word, they gathered their things and left.
When the door closed behind them, I felt a strange sense of completion. They were gone, and I was finally free.
My past no longer held me back. I was ready for what came next.
What would you have done?
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalised for creative purposes.
