**Diary Entry**
“Im leaving you, and youll never see the child again!” screamed Jane. “I want us to have a proper familyno outsiders!”
“Jane, calm down! There are no outsiders in this family,” Alexander tried to soothe his wife. “Emily is our daughter too!”
“Alex, lets send Emily to an orphanage!”
“Have you gone mad? ‘Send her’? How could you even suggest that?” Alexander stared at Jane in disbelief.
“Its simplejust send her!” Jane tossed her curls. “Well have our own child soon. Why keep someone elses?”
“Jane! This baby is a blessing *because* we took in an orphan! You were the one who insisted on adopting her!”
“I never thought wed have our ownthats why I pushed for it. Whats a family without children?”
Five-year-old Emily stood outside her parents bedroom, trembling. She wasnt theirs? They wanted to send her back? Tears spilled as she thought of the little brother or sister shed been so excited fornow the reason she might lose her family.
Alexander sensed something and opened the door to find Emily crying.
“Daddy am I not yours?” Her wide eyes searched his face.
“Of course you are, sweetheart!” He scooped her up.
“But Mummy said shed send me away!”
“Yes, we adopted you, but that doesnt mean youre not ours! We love you! Mummys just overwhelmed with the baby coming. Lets get you to bed.”
***
Later, Janes rage returned. “I didnt give birth to her! Shes not my daughter! Chooseher or me!”
Alexander packed Emilys things. “Stay with Gran for now, just till Mummy calms down. Once the babys here, well fetch you, alright?”
Emily nodded. Anything was better than an orphanage. She loved Gran, who always spoiled her with treats.
“Gran,” Emily whispered as they arrived. “If Mummy tries to send me away can I live with you instead?”
Lydia shot her son a sharp look. He shrugged weakly. “Janes hormones are all over the place.”
“Of course, darling,” Gran said, helping Emily out of her coat. “But Mummy would never send you awayyoure her girl! Shes just upset.”
***
Two months passed. Alexander visited less, torn between work and the hospital where Jane was on bed rest.
One morning, as Gran made breakfast, Emily spotted her fathers car. “Gran! Daddys here!”
“*This* early?” Gran frowned.
In the hallway, Alexander slumped onto the bench. “Jane didnt make it last night. The baby either.”
The three sat in silence, teacups cooling untouched.
“Mum, Im taking Emily home.”
“If you need me, Ill stay with you,” Lydia offered.
“Thanks”
***
Emily marveled at her new school ribbons. Soon, shed be a proper studentuniform pressed, backpack ready.
The front door clicked open. “Daddy!” She ran to himthen froze. A slender woman stood beside him.
“Sweetheart, this is Lizzie. Shell be living with us.” Alexander forced a smile.
“Hello, Emily!” Lizzie held out a bouquet. “For your first day.”
Emily muttered a greeting, ignored the flowers, and shut herself in her room.
“Dont take it personally,” Alexander said. “Shes sweet, really.”
“Im sure well be friends,” Lizzie replied.
*”Sure we will,”* Emily thought, slamming the door.
After a quiet wedding, Alexanders new job kept him away. Lizzie stepped inhelping with homework, attending parents evenings, taking Emily to films. Slowly, Emily thawed.
But at the end of the school year, Lizzie announced she was pregnant. Emily locked herself in her room, sobbing.
“Emily, please!” Lizzie begged through the door. “I love you! Id *never* send you away! Youre my girl!”
“Really?” Emily emerged, tear-streaked.
“Of course!” Lizzie hugged her. “Youre *mine.*”
Months later, Emily cradled her baby brother. “Mum, look how tiny he is!” The word slipped out. Lizzie, fighting happy tears, hugged them both.
***
Two years on, disaster struckAlexander died in a crash. Emily and Lizzie moved mechanically, caring for little Charlie, both too afraid to speak lest they cried.
One night, Lizzie broke the silence. “Emily, we cant go on like this. Dads gone, but life isnt. We have to keep living.”
Emily agreed. But then the doorbell rang.
A stern woman from social services demanded Emily pack for foster care. “Youve no legal claim to her,” she told Lizzie.
Emily numbly obeyed. *”No one wants an orphan.”*
Lizzie visited the home weekly, but Emily refused to see her. Eventually, the visits stopped.
*”Shes done playing mother,”* Emily thought bitterly.
Two months later, the director summoned her. “Congratulations! Youve got a family.”
“I dont *want* one,” Emily muttered.
“Like it or not, pack your things.”
OutsideLizzie.
“You?” Emilys voice cracked.
“Told you Id never give up. Single mothers have a hard time adopting, but I proved I could provide. And bribes still work.” She smiled. “Were a proper family now. Charlie misses you.”
Emilys eyes welled. “Okay Mum.”
**Lesson:** Blood doesnt make familylove does. And sometimes, the people who fight hardest for you are the ones who *chose* you.
