Dad, Im hungry and I want to go out! the little Blythe cries again, hopping onto her fathers lap.
Andrew Walker is midway through a pint of bitter and a round of shooting on his PC. He has a crucial match coming up, and Blythes squeals keep interrupting him. He cant figure out when shell finally quiet down. His irritation builds as she tugs his sleeve, demanding attention. How old is shefive? He thinks shes almost independent, yet she cant even make herself a bowl of porridge. He spends his evenings roaming the garage with his mates while his daughter remains a helpless little thing.
The distraction costs Andrew the gamehe loses. Fury darkens his eyes. He leaps up, rushes to the kitchen, grabs a hard crust of bread and shoves it at Blythe.
Take it and chew it, cant reach it yourself? he snaps.
He pours milk from the fridge into a glass, sets it on the table and, when Blythe mentions that Mum always warms the milk, he retorts that he isnt Mum and she should have known that by now. He returns to his computer, hoping a fullstomach Blythe will stop pestering him. The anger, however, makes it impossible to focus. After a quick bathroom break, he comes back but doesnt manage to sit in his favourite armchair.
Dad, I want to go for a walk. Mum and I always walk together! Blythe whines, pursing her lips.
Want a walk? Fine! Off you go, Andrew says, spotting a golden opportunity for some peace.
He rummages through Blythes wardrobe, pulls out warm trousers, a sweater, mittens and a coat with a hat. He hurries to clothe her, then shoves her out into the yard and tells her to stay out until he calls her back. He slams his headphones on, cranks his favourite tracks, cracks open a fresh bottle of cider and happily guns down enemies in the game, relishing the silence.
Blythe shivers in the cold. She suddenly remembers how Mum always dressed her in warmer clothes for winter walks. The sky is dim; twilight is falling, and Mum never lets her out at this hour. Blythe aches for her mother, missing the warmth of her presence. Her lips tremble as she tries the door, but Andrew has locked it. To keep from freezing, she decides to run a bit, but the snowuntouched for dayssticks to her feet, making it impossible to dash. She attempts to roll a snowman, but the powder is too loose, more like sand than snow. She wonders aloud whether the snow could actually be cold sand. She knocks on the door, but no one answers, as if she isnt heard. Fear grips her. She starts to cry, calling for Dad, but he remains silent. Curling into herself, she spots the halfopen garden gate and darts toward it, hoping to warm her numb toes even a little. She thinks of visiting neighbour Aunt Lucy, who often offers them milk, but Lucys house is dark. Blythe bangs on the doorno answer. Probably no one is home. She keeps walking, soon leaving the small village because their cottage sits on the edge of the lane. She walks and weeps, unsure of what will happen next. As a blizzard lifts, Blythe turns and is terrified; nothing is visible beyond the swirling white. She runs forward, breathing in the icy air, sobbing and shouting for Dad, while the angry image of Andrews face and his harsh wordsLeave me alone, Im not your mother!replay in her mind. Realising she is completely alone, she tries desperately to shield herself from the wind that knocks her down, then collapses on her knees. The freezing snow bites her skin, and the howling gale seeps under her coat.
When Andrew finally remembers his daughter, its around two in the morning. He might never have thought of her again if not for a sudden crash of wind against the window while hes dashing to the toilet. Bare lilac branches under the windows, frosted over, thrash in the gale.
A proper blizzard, he mutters, then the thought of leaving Blythe outside hits him like a blow.
He bursts into the yard, calling Blythe, but shes nowhere. A wave of icy dread hits himlate night, the storm, and his daughter missing. He waves his arms wildly, shouting, She cant be freezing! Shell find a way back! Assuming shes gone to a neighbours, he heads back inside, the cold biting at his fingers. He isnt too worried; Aunt Lucy often looks after Blythe. Seeing a light flicker in Lucys window, he calms himself. He texts his wife, Emily, that theyre asleep and everything is fine.
Lately, his marriage has been strained; Emily nags him like a stern stepmother, urging him to work rather than sit glued to games. He dreams of turning his gaming into a career, hearing stories of professional players earning big bucks. He blames Emily for lacking support, promising to make the big bucks someday.
Andrew collapses onto the sofa and dozes. He leaves the front door unlocked, just in case Blythe decides to return. The next morning, his sisterinlaws sister, Diana, bursts in, enraged.
Are you out of your mind? A child was left outside and youre playing games! Wheres Blythe? she shouts.
Enough! Im not going to answer Andrew waves her off, but she grabs his arm, pulls him down and he hits the floor.
Ill count every bone in your body! he threatens, rubbing his bruised wrist. Diana, unlike her gentle sister Olivia, is a tough, karatetrained woman not easily intimidated. She was raised in a martialarts school and could easily take down a man half her size.
Wheres the child? Where did you send my niece? I came for Blythe! Diana demands.
Hes wandering the village, somewhere, Andrew replies, hiding the fact that he actually tossed his daughter out to stop her from bothering him.
Dianas eyes widen. Shes ready to pounce, furious that Andrew treats his own child as if it were nothing. She storms to Aunt Lucys house, pleading, Is Blythe here? The little girl from the seventh lane? Lucy shakes her head, pale, and says she knows nothing. Diana had just returned from a business trip; she had barely arrived when the news broke. She knocks on every neighbours door, hoping someone sheltered Blythe, but everyone shakes their headsno one ventured out in the snowstorm. She returns home, shakes Andrew, who sits calmly at his computer, and she punches him, crying, Where did you put our child?
Andrew tries to calm her, claiming Blythe is fine and will return. Diana refuses to believe him, reminding him of the message he sent Emily about going to bed early. She decides not to tell Olivia the full truth yet, fearing it would ruin her sisters upcoming heart operation. She calls the police. When the officers arrive, they quickly deduce what happened and place Andrew in handcuffs.
What am I supposed to do? I didnt hurt her! he protests.
The law will decide whether you harmed the child. Leaving a fiveyearold outside in a blizzard is child endangerment, a stern officer says.
Diana sobs, terrified of what might have happened to Blythe. The rescue team discovers a small, unnatural snow mound and begins to dig. She drinks calming tea given by Aunt Lucy, but the tears wont stop. She enters Blythes room, sees clothes scattered, picks up the tiny nightdress and breaks down. She last saw her niece a month ago; Olivia was preparing for heart surgery and had postponed everything because of work. Blythe had clung to Diana then, saying she loved her. Now shes missing, perhaps forever.
A detective steps in, We found these mittens in the woodsdo they belong to the girl? Diana gasps; those mittens were a gift from her to Blythe during a business trip. She collapses onto a chair, the officer helps her up.
Its too early to bury her. We only have the mittens. The storm erased most traces, the detective explains. Diana nods, hugging herself, silently praying that Blythe is still alive.
The search drags on through the night without results. Police and rescue crews eventually leave, taking Andrews grief with them. Diana stays alone in the unfamiliar house, cursing herself for never stopping Olivia from marrying Andrew. She had seen his vanity, his obsession with his muscles from the army, and his empty head. Olivia, blinded by love, kept defending him even when he disappeared for days into games. She swore to quit the games, but relapsed when her sister fell ill. Diana remembers how calmly Andrew sat at his computer when she woke him, as if nothing mattered.
Sleep eludes Diana. She lies to Olivia, saying everythings fine and shes taken Blythe in. She cant imagine telling her sister the truth if Blythe turns up dead.
At dawn, the detective calls. A fivesixyearold girl has arrived at the regional hospital; Diana must come immediately. She rushes there, heart pounding. The staff wont let her see the child until the officer arrives. In the ward, she barely recognises Blythe, halfcrouched in a blanket. A young doctor, Dr. Samuel, steps forward.
Is this your daughter? he asks gently.
Its my niece Diana whispers, struggling to stand.
Youll be okay. Shes strong; shell pull through, he reassures.
The officer steps aside for a private chat. Diana sits beside the bed, grabs Blythes hand, and sobs with relief. The doctor explains Blythe has partial frostbite on her fingers and a risk of pneumonia, but shes stabilising.
Later, Dr. Samuel introduces himself. He tells Diana he found Blythe while out with his dog, Buddy, after the boy ran off chasing the pup. He rushed her to the hospital because she was unconscious. Hes on his day off, living in a nearby town with Buddy. He had taken the dog for a walk, and Buddy got distracted, barking at a small figure. Samuel grabbed Blythe, gave her first aid, and called an ambulance.
Buddy whines, Buddy, where are you off to? Come home! Samuel chases after him, but the dog darts toward the snow, whining for help. Samuel catches up, sees Buddys leash tangled around a childs sleeve, pulls them both free, and carries Blythe to his car.
Diana, still shaking, thanks Samuel, If it werent for Buddy, shed be gone. Samuel nods, We did what we could.
He offers her a cup of tea in the hospital lounge. Diana, exhausted and famished, accepts. She thinks about how to tell Olivia the truth without crushing her, knowing the news of a heart operation will already be a blow. The doctor promises to do everything to keep Blythes injuries from leaving scars.
Diana decides not to hide the truth any longer. She drives to the hospital to meet Olivia. Shes sure Andrew will try to call his wife from the police station, hoping to dodge responsibility. When she finally walks into Olivias ward, Olivia greets her with a bright smile.
Good news! They wont need surgery; the treatment is working. Ill be home soon, Olivia says, then glances around, Wheres Blythe? Did you leave her with Andrew?
Diana drops her head, starts her story from the end to soften the blow. Olivia shakes her head, tears welling, refusing to believe Andrew could do such a thing. She begs Diana to stay with her for a while.
Of course, you can stay. The flat is yours now; Mum left it to us, Diana says, offering her spare room.
Olivia decides to file for divorce as soon as shes discharged. She wants to visit her daughter, but she cant leave the hospital yet. Diana promises to look after Blythe, acting as both mother and father for the time being.
That evening Blythe awakens. Seeing Diana, she throws her arms around her aunt and cries. She tells Diana the friendly dog saved her and that she heard a kind mans voice but cant answer. She begs Diana never to bring her father back, because he threw her out. The little girl understands everything, making the wound even deeper.
Blythes lung inflammation doesnt develop, so she recovers quickly. Olivia is released early, and while Andrew sits in a police holding cell, she packs her things and moves into Dianas flat, finalising divorce papers. Dianas romance with Dr. Samuel blossoms. After Blythes discharge, Samuel and Buddy become regular guests at Dianas home, and Blythe constantly asks for a big bone or a treat for Buddy.
Olivia finds life easier without the burden of a worthless husband, while Andrew receives a suspended sentence and a criminal record. He shows no remorse, glad to be alone now that no one interferes with his gaming. He eventually sells everything he owns, becomes desperate for income, grows bitter, and picks fights at work. When his colleagues learn how he abandoned his wife and child, they beat him up, calling him a disgrace. He ends up bedridden with a spinal injury, trying futilely to win Olivia back, but she knows his true nature and never trusts him again. She focuses on helping Blythe recover psychologically. Diana, however, decides to marry Dr. Samuel, confident in his big heart.
The whole village hears how a simple game can ruin a family, but also how a loyal dog and a compassionate doctor can save a childs life.
