Emily stood by the window, watching from above as her husband led their daughter away by the handtheir former daughter. In a moment, the car door would slam shut, the engine would start, and it would carry them both away, only for him to return alone. Bitter tears rolled down Emily’s cheeks, dripping onto the crown of her one-year-old daughters head. The little girl squirmed in discomfort, trying to wriggle free from her mothers grasp. Emily held her tighter against her chest, her heart aching with pain, shame, and regret.
They had tried for years to have a child, but it never happened, so adopting from a childrens home had seemed like the obvious choicea decision theyd made easily. The hard part had been making it a reality. Emily remembered their visit to the childrens home, the wary adult expressions on the childrens faces, watching them with hope and fear.
Lucy had caught her eye immediately, even though her husband had dreamed of a son. With her fair braids and enormous blue eyes, the eleven-year-old looked strikingly like Emilys late mother, and her heart had softened. Lucy, too, had warmed to them quickly, thrilled by their visits.
The shock came when the care home director mentioned Lucy was considered a “forever orphan.” She had been adopted four times before, only to be returned each time. Emily hadnt pressed for detailsher kind heart ached for the poor girl, betrayed again and again by those shed learned to call parents.
While waiting for the paperwork to clear, they brought Lucy home more often. The girl already had her own room in their small flat, something she adored. Orphans werent deprived of possessions so much as love and attentionand personal space. Now she had both in abundance.
Then came the miracleEmily discovered she was pregnant. It happened so oftencouples adopting only to conceive naturally soon after. Overjoyed, they never considered canceling the adoptiontheyd grown to love Lucy deeply.
Time passed. The adoption was approved, and Lucy left the care home for what theyd thought would be forever. At eleven, she was old enough to understand, so the psychologist helping her adjust urged them to tell her about the baby.
They did. It was more of a monologue than a conversation. As Emily and her husband took turns explaining, Lucy listened intently, her big blue eyes shifting between them. They assured her their love wouldnt change, that she could never be replaceduntil they mentioned shed eventually have to share her room. Lucys expression hardened. She turned and walked out without another word.
After that, her behavior grew strange. She clung to them, wrapping her arms tightly around their necks, sometimes squeezing too hardalmost like she wanted to choke them. Her eyes would glaze over, teeth gritting. “I love you, Mummy,” shed whisper, more and more often.
Emily would hug her back, kiss her, soothe her. But her husband grew uneasy, though he loved Lucy just as much. The psychologist brushed it offLucy was adjusting remarkably well. The clinginess? Just fear of sharing their attention.
Then baby Sophie arrived, and their home became a nightmare. Born premature, she cried constantly, demanding Emilys full focus. To avoid disturbing Lucy, they kept Sophies cot in their bedroom. Emily split herself between both girls, collapsing into exhausted sleep each night. Her husband helpedtaking Lucy to school, reading bedtime stories. At first, nothing seemed wrong.
Then Emily noticed something oddwhenever she left Sophie alone with Lucy, the baby would scream hysterically. Rushing in, shed find Lucy hovering over her sister, cooing sweetly, while Sophies face turned red from crying. Until one day, Emily walked in to see Lucy pinching the babys nose shut. When she let go at Emilys gasp, Sophie gasped for air, wailing.
Emily snatched her up, struggling to stay calm as she questioned Lucy. The girl just staredsilent, unreadable. That evening, her husband coaxed a flimsy excuse from hershed just been wiping Sophies nose.
They consulted the psychologist again, who insisted Lucy just needed more love. Then came another warningEmily caught Lucy trying to feed Sophie a bottle of scalding formula. Still, Lucy just watched them, her beautiful eyes empty.
As Sophie grew calmer, Lucy seemed to adjustor so they thought. Then summer arrived. Theyd promised Lucy a seaside trip, her first ever, but with a newborn, it was impossible. When Emily gently broke the news, Lucy erupted. She wailed, thrashed, refused to listen.
The psychologist still saw no issue, praising Lucys politeness. Privately, they agreed to find someone new.
That night, Emily tucked Lucy in herselfher husband was away. For hours, she talked, reassuring her, blaming herself for Lucys jealousy. Until Lucy asked, casually, what would happen if Sophie disappeared. Would they love her more? Would they go to the seaside then?
Emily answered carefully, but inside, she knewLucy didnt need a psychologist. She needed a psychiatrist.
Exhausted, Emily fell asleeponly to wake to rustling sounds. She bolted upright to see Lucy pressing a pillow over Sophies face.
Emily lunged, snatching Sophie away. The babys face was pale, lips blue. She nearly slapped Lucybut stopped when she saw the hatred blazing in those blue eyes.
Lucys words haunted her. She hated Sophie. Wanted her gone. Promised to make it happen.
Counseling, psychiatrynothing worked. Lucy demanded they get rid of Sophie or she would.
Now, Emily watched as her husband led Lucy away. Their former daughter.
Lucy stopped, turned, and stared straight at the window. Emily flinched, staggering back, sobbing harder.
When she dared to look again, they were gonefootprints already covered by the falling snow.
