«All She Needs Is Time»
«Right then. Either you help me strip Vicky of her parental rights, or I walk away and you sort this mess yourselves.»
«Annie, for heavens sake! Shes your sister! My daughter!» Mum threw her hands up before clutching her chest.
«And what am I? Not your daughter?» Hurt crept into Annies voice. «Sometimes I think Im not even a person to you… Cant you see whats happening? Ive grown to love little Alfie, and youeither help me or Ill do it alone. But I wont let this go.»
Mum looked away, torn between them all. Dad kept stirring his tea with a scowl. Annie, realising the truth, stood and walked to her room.
It was clear. They hadnt chosen her. Not even Alfie.
Annie began packingshe didnt have much. Her heart ached, but she knew this had to be done.
How could she stay strong when a little boy hugged her legs, sobbing?
«Mummy, dont go…» Alfie begged, watching her pack.
That word*Mummy*cut deep. Annie sighed, knelt, and forced a smile.
«Im not leaving *you*, Alfie,» she whispered, holding him close. «Im leaving so we can have a better life. Ill come back. For good.»
Alfie cried, not understanding why his auntthe woman he called Mumwas abandoning him. He clung to her until exhaustion took him. Only then, late that night, did Annie slip out.
At that moment, she hated Vicky. Shed forced this nightmare on them all.
…Vicky had started slipping into wild ways at sixteen. First, late nights, then «sleepovers at friends»though everyone knew what that meant. Shed stumble home smeared with makeup, sometimes in tears. Mum and Dad coddled her like some fragile treasure.
Pregnancy was inevitable. At seventeen, Vicky got pregnantno idea who the father was. Just «some bloke from a party.»
Alfie was born. Quickly, Vicky decided motherhood wasnt for her. Shed vanish overnight, then disappeared for good.
«Im young. I wont throw my life away,» she told Annie over the phone.
So the burden fell on Annie. Granddad barely careda toy here and there. Granny helped, but she worked.
Annie was eighteen. She switched to part-time uni to care for Alfie. Nights were for feeding him, days for dragging his pram up stairs, exams on no sleep. By six months, shed adjustedthen Vicky returned, crying, begging forgiveness.
«I was such a fool… Ill change…»
They believed her. Even Annie. For a month, Vicky played mum. Then, once the fuss died down, she vanished againthis time with Mums jewellery.
«Shes struggling,» Mum excused. «Shell come back. Give her time.»
Annie stopped believing. Once was chance; twice was a pattern. But where could she go? Mum and Dad lived in a fantasy where Vicky deserved endless chances.
Annie carried on. Uni, raising Alfie, nursery runs, doctor visits. She prayed Vicky wouldnt return.
But four years later, Vicky was back.
«I thought he loved me. Wanted us to be a family. But he used me… I was alone, no job, no friends…»
Annie scoffed. «Couldve fooled melooks like you ate just fine.»
Mum shot her a glare.
The worst came when Annie brought Alfie home from nursery. Granny nudged him toward Vicky. He hid behind Annie, crying.
«Dont be silly! This is your mum.»
«Thats not Mummy! *She* is!»
«Annies just your aunt. Vickys your real mum.»
Annies heart shattered.
And it happened again. Vicky lived off them for two months, jobless.
«Wholl hire me with Alfie? Its like Im on maternity leave.»
Then she vanishedagain. Photos surfaced with a new «boyfriend,» twice her age.
«No hope left,» Annie thought.
She confided in her friend, Nina.
«Deprive her of rights. Its not hard. Theyll see shes unfit, then you sort it.»
Annie hesitated. «But Alfie might get taken. And Mum and Dad…»
«Then wait till Vicky wrecks him again. Is that what you want? And Anniewheres *your* life?»
Shed forgotten. Dates fled when they heard she had a «kid.» Only Liam, a uni mate, stayed.
After talking to Nina, Annie gave him a chance. With him, she felt free.
So when she gave her parents the ultimatum, she went to Liamjust to vent. But he surprised her.
«Move in with me. Nows the time.»
«I cant. Alfie»
«So well be three.»
Annie gaped. «But hes not yours»
«Annie,» he cut in. «I knew what I signed up for. If hes family to you, hes family to me.»
Hope flickered.
The next six months were hell. Social services, paperwork. Worse, she couldnt take Alfie yethe cried, waiting.
«You stole your sisters child!» Mum accused.
«Like she ever wanted him.»
They shut her out. Only Liam and friends stood by her.
But after the storm comes calm.
…Years later, Annie watched Alfie teach his little sister, Lily, to play football. Liam hugged her. It had all been worth it.
She hadnt heard from Vickydidnt care to. Same old chaos. Losing Alfie was just another sob story for their parents.
They never forgave her. Fine. «Let them coddle Vicky,» Annie thought. «Ill care for those who need it. The sun dipped low behind the trees, casting golden light over the garden. Lily shrieked with laughter as Alfie gently guided her tiny foot to the ball. Annie leaned into Liam, his arm warm around her shoulders, and smiled. For the first time in years, she felt no weight, no fearonly peace. She had built this life, not inherited it. And it was enough. More than enough.
