“Mom, Dad won’t let me come home and I can hear someone screaming.”

I got this message from my daughter which left me panicking. I rushed home immediately, calling my daughter at the same time.

Me: Milly, darling, who is screaming? Is it Dad?
Milly: No, I can hear a woman’s voice.
Me: I am on my way! Wait for me in the park.

But after I hung up, my phone rang again. IT WAS MY HUSBAND! The next moment, my heart dropped!
Him: Hi, I’m calling to tell you that…

My mind raced as I gripped the steering wheel tighter. What was going on? I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.

Me: What’s happening, John? Milly just sent me a message. She’s scared.
Him: I know. That’s why I’m calling. Listen, don’t panic. It’s not what it seems.
Me: Not what it seems? She said she heard screaming!

Him: That’s what I’m trying to explain. It’s my sister, Jane. She’s in the basement. She showed up out of nowhere, completely distraught. She’s been in an abusive relationship and finally escaped. She was too scared to go to the police, so she came here. That’s why I didn’t let Milly come home right away. I didn’t want her to see Jane like this.
Relief washed over me, but I was still on edge.

Me: Why didn’t you call me sooner? I was terrified!

Him: I’m sorry. It all happened so fast. Jane was in a state, and I was just trying to calm her down. I didn’t think clearly. I should have called you immediately.

Me: Okay. I understand. I’ll head to the park to get Milly. Then we’ll come home and figure this out together.

Him: Thank you. And again, I’m really sorry for the scare.

I drove to the park, my heart still racing but with a sense of relief replacing the panic. I spotted Milly sitting on a bench, looking frightened and confused. I pulled up, got out of the car, and ran to her, wrapping her in a tight hug.

Me: It’s okay, Milly. Everything is going to be fine. Daddy explained everything.

Milly: What’s going on, Mom?

Me: Aunt Jane is at the house. She’s been through something really bad, and Dad was just trying to help her. That’s the screaming you heard. She’s safe now, and we’re going to go home and support her, okay?

Milly nodded, still looking worried but reassured by my presence. We got into the car and headed back home. When we arrived, John was waiting at the door, his face lined with worry and guilt. He hugged us both tightly.

John: I’m so sorry, both of you. I should have handled it better.

Me: We’ll talk about it later. Let’s focus on Jane for now.

We went inside, and I saw Jane sitting on the couch, looking pale and shaken. Her eyes were red from crying. I walked over to her and gave her a gentle hug.

Me: Jane, you’re safe here. We’re here for you.

Jane: Thank you. I didn’t know where else to go.

Milly stood by, her eyes wide with concern. I guided her to sit next to Jane and explained the situation in a way she could understand.

Me: Milly, Aunt Jane is going to stay with us for a while. She needs our help and love right now.

Milly nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of the situation. We spent the rest of the evening comforting Jane, helping her feel safe and secure.

That night, after Milly had gone to bed, John and I sat down together. We talked about what had happened and how we could better handle such situations in the future. We promised to communicate more openly and to face challenges together, as a family.

The next few days were difficult, but we faced them together. Jane gradually began to feel more secure, and Milly’s concern turned into a desire to help her aunt heal. Our family grew closer through this ordeal, united by love and understanding.