Elizabeth stood by the window, watching from above as her husband led the little girl away by the hand Their daughter. Their lost daughter Any moment now, the car door would slam shut, the engine would roar to life, and it would take them both awayonly for her husband to return alone. Bitter tears streamed down Elizabeths cheeks, dripping onto the crown of her one-year-old daughters head. The child whimpered, squirming in her mothers grip. Elizabeth clutched her tighter, her heart constricting with pain, shame, and regret.
They had tried for years to conceive, to no avail, so adopting had seemed like the obvious, even natural choice. But the process had been grueling. She remembered their visit to the orphanagethe wary, too-old eyes in those young faces, watching them with hope and distrust.
Lucy had caught her eye immediately, even though her husband, James, had always dreamed of a son. With her golden braids and wide blue eyes, the eleven-year-old bore an uncanny resemblance to Elizabeths late mother, and her heart had stirred. Lucy, too, had warmed to them instantly, lighting up with joy at each visit.
The shock came later, when the orphanage director revealed Lucy was what they called a “forever child.” She had been adopted four timesand returned four times. Elizabeth hadnt pressed for details. Her kind heart ached too much for the girl, abandoned over and over by those she had learned to call parents.
They had waited for the paperwork to clear, bringing Lucy home more and more often. The girl had her own room in their two-bed flat, a luxury she treasured. Orphans lacked not just belongings, but love and spaceand now Lucy had both in abundance.
Then came the miracle. Elizabeth discovered she was pregnant. It happened so oftencouples adopting, only to conceive soon after. They were overjoyed, but never once considered undoing the adoption. By then, they loved Lucy as their own.
Time passed. The adoption was approved, and Lucy left the orphanageor so theyd thoughtfor good. Eleven was old enough to understand, so the family therapist urged them to tell Lucy about the baby.
They did. A one-sided conversation, really. As Elizabeth and James took turns explaining, Lucy listened, her enormous gray eyes fixed on them, unblinking. They reassured hertheir love for her wouldnt diminish. But when they mentioned shed eventually share her room with the baby, something hardened in Lucys gaze. She turned and walked away without a word.
After that, her behavior turned strange. She clung to them obsessively, arms locked like a vice, pressing against them for far too long. Shed sneak up behind Elizabeth, wrapping her arms around her neck with alarming forcealmost like she wanted to choke her. “I love you, Mummy,” shed murmur, teeth gritted, eyes glassy.
Elizabeth hugged her back, stroked her hair, kissed her forehead. But James grew uneasy. The therapist dismissed their concernsLucy was just afraid of sharing their attention.
Then little Amelia arrived, premature and fussy, demanding constant care. To avoid disturbing Lucy, they kept Amelias crib in their bedroom. Elizabeth tried to divide her time, but exhaustion consumed her. James helped where he couldtaking Lucy to school, reading bedtime stories. At first, nothing seemed amiss Until it did.
Elizabeth noticed that whenever Amelia was alone with Lucy, the baby would shriek hysterically. Rushing in, shed find Lucy hovering over the crib, cooingbut once, she caught her pinching Amelias nose shut. When Elizabeth lunged forward, Lucy released her, and Amelia gasped, wailing.
Elizabeth clutched her baby, struggling to stay calm as she questioned Lucy. The girl just staredblank, silent. Later, James coaxed out a flimsy excuse: Lucy claimed shed only been wiping Amelias nose.
The therapist brushed it off againjust a cry for attention. Then came another warning: Elizabeth intercepted Lucy trying to feed Amelia a bottle of boiling formula. That time, staring into those eerily familiar eyes, Elizabeth saw no lovejust emptiness.
Months passed. Amelia grew calmer, and Lucy seemed to adjust. Summer arrived. Theyd promised Lucy a seaside holidayher first ever. But with a newborn, it was impossible. When Elizabeth gently broke the news, Lucy snapped.
She didnt cryshe howled, thrashing on the floor like a wounded animal. Elizabeth was terrified. Yet the therapist insisted Lucy was perfectly well-adjusted, even polite. Exchanging glances, James and Elizabeth silently agreed to find someone new.
That night, Elizabeth tucked Lucy in herselfJames was away on business. After settling Amelia, she spent hours talking to Lucy, reassuring her. Guilt gnawed at hermaybe shed misjudged her sweet, affectionate girl.
Then Lucy asked, casually, what would happen if Amelia disappeared. Would they love her more? Would they still go to the seaside?
Elizabeth answered carefully, but inside, she knewLucy didnt need a therapist. She needed a psychiatrist.
Exhausted, she fell into bed, only to wake to rustling. Amelias crib. Lucy loomed over the baby, pressing a pillow to her face.
Elizabeth lunged, wrenching it away. Amelias face was ghostly pale. She raised a hand to strike Lucythen froze. The girls eyes burned with pure hatred.
What came next shattered Elizabeth. Lucy despised Amelia. Wanted her gone. Swore shed make it happen. Elizabeth sank onto the bed, weeping, lost.
Counselors. Psychiatrists. Nothing worked. Lucy demanded they get rid of Ameliaor she would.
They had no choice.
Now, Elizabeth watched as James led Lucy away. Their daughter. Their former daughter.
Lucy stopped. She turned, staring straight up at the window. Elizabeth recoiled as if struck, collapsing into sobs. When she dared to look again, they were goneonly fresh snow covering their footprints.
