**Diary Entry**
*8th May*
«Either you help me strip Vicky of her parental rights, or I walk away, and you deal with this mess yourselves.»
«Lucy, for Gods sake! Shes your sister! My daughter!» Mum gasped, clutching her chest.
«And what am I? Not your daughter too?» Lucys voice cracked with hurt. «Sometimes I think I dont even matter to you… Cant you see whats happening? Ive grown to love little Jackhes my worldand yet you… Either stand with me, or Ill handle this alone. But I wont let this go.»
Mum dropped her gaze, torn. Dad just scowled into his porridge. Realising their choice, Lucy stood and walked to her room.
Clearly, they hadnt chosen her. Or Jack.
She packed her thingsnot manyher heart heavy but resolute. This had to be done.
But how do you stay strong when a little boy clings to your legs, sobbing?
«Mummy, dont go…» Jack whimpered, watching her pack.
*Mummy.* That word cut deep. Lucy knelt, forcing a smile.
«Im not leaving *you*, sweetheart,» she whispered, holding him close. «Im leaving so one day, things will be better. I *will* come back. For good.»
Jack criedconfused, betrayedclinging until exhaustion took him. Only then could Lucy slip out, silent as a shadow.
In that moment, she hated Vicky. This was all *her* fault.
…Vicky had spiralled at sixteen. First, late nights, then «sleepovers»though everyone knew what that meant. Shed stagger home, smeared makeup, reeking of drink. Sometimes in tears. And Mum and Dad would fuss over her like she was some fragile doll.
A baby was inevitable. At seventeen, she got pregnantno idea who the father was. Just some «bloke from a party.»
Jack arrived. Quickly, Vicky realised motherhood wasnt for her. First, overnight absences, then… she vanished.
«Im too young to throw my life away,» she told Lucy over the phone.
So the «life» fell to Lucy. Grandpa barely acknowledged Jack, buying the odd toy. Grandma helped but worked full-time.
Lucy was eighteen. She switched to part-time uni, raising Jackfeeding him at midnight, hauling his pram up stairs, studying after bedtime. She kept the house running too; her parents were always «too busy.»
By six months, shed adjustedthen Vicky returned, tearful, repentant.
«Forgive me, I was so stupid… Ill change!»
They all believed her. Even Lucy.
For a month, Vicky played mumthen vanished again. This time, stealing Mums jewellery.
«Shes struggling,» Mum excused. «Shell come back. She just needs time.»
But Lucy stopped believing. Once was chance; twice, a pattern. Yet what choice did she have? Her parents lived in denial, forever granting Vicky chances. But abandon Jack? Never.
She endured. Studied, raised Jack, took him to nursery, doctors. Prayed Vicky wouldnt return.
Four years later, she did.
«I thought he loved me,» Vicky sniffed. «Wed live together, take Jack… But he used me. Left me with nothingno job, no friends. I barely scraped train fare home…»
«Couldve fooled melooks like youve been eating well,» Lucy muttered.
Mum shot her a glare. Sympathy flooded back to «poor Vicky.»
Worse came when Lucy fetched Jack from nursery. Granny nudged him toward Vicky. He hid behind Lucy, crying.
«Dont be silly! This is your *mummy*.»
«Thats not Mummy! *She* is!» Jack clung to Lucy.
«Lucys just your aunt. Vickys your *real* mum.»
Lucys heart shattered.
And it happened again.
Vicky leeched off them for months, jobless.
«Whod hire me with Jack? Im basically on maternity leave,» she sneered when Lucy asked.
Then she disappearedagainposting photos with some greying bloke twice her age.
*Just another drunk.*
Hope died. But what now?
Lucy confided in her friend, Emma.
«Easy. Strip her of rights,» Emma shrugged. «Theyll check, see shes absent, and youll sort the rest.»
Lucy hesitated.
«My parentsll disown me. And what if they take Jack?»
«Or wait till Vicky wrecks hisand yourlife again. Your choice.»
Emma was right. This couldnt continue.
And there was Alexher uni mate whod stuck around, even knowing about Jack. With him, she felt *normal*.
After her ultimatum failed, she went to him.
«Move in with me,» he said.
«I cant. Jack»
«So well be three.»
«But hes not yours»
«Lucy,» he cut in. «I knew what I signed up for. If hes family to you, he is to me.»
Hope flickered.
The next six months were hellsocial workers, paperwork. Worse, she couldnt take Jack yet. He cried, waiting.
«You stole your sisters child!» Mum accused.
«Like she ever wanted him,» Lucy snapped.
Her parents shut her out. Only Alex and friends stood by her.
But after the storm, comes calm.
…Years later, Lucy watched Jack teach his little sister, Lily, to kick a football. Alex squeezed her shoulder.
*Worth it.*
She hadnt heard from Vickydidnt care to. Same old cycle: men, parties. Losing Jack just gave her another sob story.
Her parents never forgave her. Fine. Let them coddle Vicky.
*Ill care for those who need me.*
**Lesson:** Blood doesnt make familylove does. And sometimes, walking away is the bravest way to stay.
