Chapter 2: A Mother's Heartbreak
Chapter 2: A Mother's Heartbreak
When Toby's mother, Emily, arrived at the hospital, she thought her son had the flu.
Instead, she walked into every parent's worst nightmare.
A social worker sat beside her.
Doctors explained the injuries.
Police described the investigation.
Then they showed her photographs.
Emily's hands started shaking.
"No..."
The word barely escaped her lips.
"No, this can't be true."
But it was.
Every scar.
Every burn.
Every bruise.
All of it had happened inside her own home.
Tears streamed down her face as guilt crashed over her.
How had she missed it?
How had she failed to protect her son?
When she entered Toby's room, he looked frightened.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Emily dropped to her knees beside his bed.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered.
Toby stared at her.
"I thought you'd be mad."
Emily broke completely.
She wrapped her arms around him and cried harder than she ever had in her life.
"Never," she said.
"Nothing is your fault."
For the first time in months, Toby cried too.
Not because he was afraid.
But because he finally felt safe enough to let the fear go.
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Mother and son held each other for a long time.
And in that moment, healing finally began.
