Chapter 3

Right then, a small shape came running over crying and went into my arms.

"Mommy!"

I sat there frozen before it came together for me. The thin, messy little girl in front of me was my daughter Emily. Nothing else mattered, and I pulled her in and held on.

"Emily, how did you get this thin?"

Emily sniffed and put her small hands out in front of me.

"None of you gets to pick on my mom!"

That put the whole crowd on hold.

"Isn't that Ms. Cross' daughter? Why is she calling that woman Mom?"

"Don't tell me Mr.…