The air in the room felt thick, like treacle clinging to every word.
«Right. Either you help me strip Vicky of her rights, or I walk. Sort it out yourselves.»
«Natalie, for heavens sake! Shes your sister! My daughter!» Mums hands fluttered to her chest, as if clutching at an invisible pain.
«And what am I? Not your daughter?» Bitterness dripped from Natalies voice. «Sometimes I think Im not even human to you… Cant you see whats happening? Ive grown to love little Archie like my own, and you Either help me, or Ill do it alone. But I wont let this go.»
Mum looked away, torn. Dad kept stirring his tea with a grimace, eyes fixed on the table. Understanding dawned on Natalie like a cold sunrise. She stood and walked to her room.
It was clear. They hadnt chosen her. Not even Archie.
Natalie packed her few belongings, hands trembling. The weight in her chest was unbearable, yet she knewthis had to be done.
But how could she stay strong when a small child clung to her legs, sobbing?
«Mummy, dont go…» Archies voice was a fragile whisper.
*Mummy.* The word cut deeper each time. Natalie sighed, knelt, and forced a smile.
«Im not leaving *you*, Archie,» she murmured, pulling him close. «Im leaving so one day, everything will be right. Ill come back. For good. Forever.»
Archie wailed, unable to grasp why the aunt he called Mummy would abandon him. He clung to her jumper, refusing to let go until exhaustion dragged him into sleep. Only then did she slip out, silent as a shadow.
In that moment, Natalie hated Vicky. She was the one whod forced this nightmare upon them.
…Vicky had started her wild streak at sixteen. First, late nights. Then «sleepovers» with «friends»though everyone knew what that meant. Shed stumble home smeared with mascara, reeking of cheap perfume, sometimes in tears. And Mum and Dad would fuss over her like she was made of glass, cooing and consoling.
A pregnancy was inevitable. At seventeen, Vicky «got herself in trouble»no better way to say it. She didnt even know the fathers surname. Just some bloke from a party.
Archie was born. Quickly, Vicky realised motherhood wasnt for her. First, she left him overnight. Then she vanished altogether.
«Im too young to throw my life away,» shed told Natalie over the phone.
So the «life» fell to Natalie. Grandpa barely glanced at his grandson, buying the odd toy but nothing more. Grandma helped when she could, but work kept her busy.
Natalie was eighteen. She switched to distance learning to care for a baby who wasnt hers. She became his second motherquite literally, since shed even stood as his godmother.
It was brutal. Nights spent rocking Archie to sleep, lugging a pram up steep London stairs, cramming lectures between nappy changes. By six months, shed adjusteduntil Vicky returned, weeping, begging forgiveness.
«I was such a fool… Ill change…»
They all believed her. Even Natalie. For a month, Vicky played the doting mother. Then, once the neighbours admiration faded, she vanished againthis time with Mums jewellery.
«She just needs time,» Mum insisted.
Natalie stopped believing. Once was chance. Twice? A pattern. But what choice did she have? Her parents lived in a delusion where Vicky deserved endless chances.
So Natalie carried on. University, nursery runs, doctor visits. She prayed Vicky wouldnt return.
But four years later, there she wason the doorstep, spinning tales of betrayal.
«He used me… I was alone, jobless, in Liverpool… Had to scrape by.»
Natalie snorted. «Funny how well-fed you look.»
Mum shot her a glare.
The worst came when Natalie brought Archie home from nursery. Grandma nudged him toward Vicky. He burst into tears, hiding behind Natalie.
«Dont be silly,» Grandma crooned. «This is your mummy.»
«*Shes* not Mummy! *She* is!» Archie gripped Natalie tighter.
The heartbreak was unbearable.
Vicky stayed two months, leaching off them, never job-hunting. «Whod hire me with a kid?» Then she disappeared againthis time with photos flaunting a new «boyfriend,» a man twice her age.
Natalie knew. Another dead end.
Desperate, she confided in her best friend, Lucy.
«Just have her rights revoked,» Lucy shrugged. «Theyll check, see shes never been a mother, and youll sort the rest.»
Natalie hesitated. «What if they take Archie?»
«Then you wait till Vicky wrecks him again. Your choice.»
A truth struck her: Where was *her* life?
Shed forgotten. Dates fled when they heard she had a «child.» Only one man stayedJames, from her course. After Lucys advice, she gave him a chance.
With James, she felt weightless. No pretending.
So when she issued her ultimatum to her parents, she fled to him.
«Move in with me,» he said. «Nows the time.»
«I cant. Archie»
«Whats the issue? Well make it work.»
Natalie gaped. «Hes not yours»
«Nat,» James cut in, «Im not daft. If hes family to you, hes family to me.»
For the first time, hope flickered.
The next six months were hell. Social workers, paperworkbut the worst was leaving Archie behind, his tears haunting her.
«You stole your sisters child!» Mum spat.
«Like she ever wanted him.»
Her parents shut her out. Only James and Lucy stood by her.
Yet after the storm, calm.
Years later, Natalie watched Archie teach his little sister, Emily, to kick a football. James squeezed her shoulder. She smiled. It had been worth it.
Vicky? No word. Not that Natalie cared. Her life was still a carousel of men and pubs. Losing Archie was just another sob story for their parents.
They never forgave Natalie. Fine. Let them coddle Vicky.
Natalie would care for those who truly needed her.
