Tori’s life took a sharp turn the day her parents left her and her two younger brothers behind, forcing them to grow up without any support. Years later, just when Tori had finally rebuilt her life, they unexpectedly appeared at her doorstep, acting as if nothing had ever happened. But why had they come back, and what did they want?
The memories of that day still haunted me. I was only 15 when I saw my parents packing their belongings in a hurry. “Child services will come and take you away,” my father said coldly.
My little brothers, Lucas and Ben, clung to me, confused and frightened. Lucas, who was only six, looked up at me with wide, innocent eyes and asked, “Tori, what’s happening?”
“I don’t know,” I replied, holding them close. “But I promise, everything will be okay.”
The truth was, I had no idea what was going on. I was as lost and scared as they were. Moments later, the doorbell rang, and I knew it was Child Protective Services. A kind woman entered, but her words felt distant as she told us that they were taking us to a safe place.
I held onto my brothers tightly as they led us out of the only home we knew. We were placed in separate cars, each heading to a different foster home. As I watched my brothers disappear from view, it felt like my heart was breaking into a million pieces.
My foster home wasn’t much better. The Thompsons treated me like an outsider, expecting me to work for my keep. I missed Lucas and Ben terribly, but as time passed, it became harder to visit them. Eventually, they moved out of state, and I lost all contact.
Determined to survive, I left the Thompsons and lived on the streets for a while, doing small jobs to make ends meet. I never gave up hope, though. I worked hard, saved what I could, and eventually, I was able to go back to school and earn a degree.
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