As I booked my flight, my hands shook with each keystroke. I felt a surge of resolve as the ticket confirmation appeared on the screen. I was going home, and I would do whatever it took to ensure my daughter’s safety.

The moment I hung up with Mark, I knew I needed backup. Someone who understood the gravity of the situation and wouldn’t brush off Emma’s cries for help. I dialed a number I hadn’t called in years, a connection I had once severed in the name of moving on. As I waited for the line to connect, I could feel my heart pounding in my throat.

“It’s happening again. I need your help,” I whispered, my voice barely holding steady.

The voice on the other end was calm and steady, a lifeline thrown into the chaos. “I’ll be there. You know I will.”