When my neighbor died, I tried to help his grieving family. His daughter was left with her stepmother, who seemed kind at first. But as I spent more time with the little girl, I started to see things that didn\u2019t feel right. I knew I couldn\u2019t just stand by. I had to protect her, no matter what.\n

I loved our neighborhood, especially because of my neighbors. The tree-lined streets and cheerful houses made it feel warm and welcoming.\n

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Everyone was friendly and always ready to help. If someone needed a hand, there was never a shortage of offers. It felt like being part of a big, caring family.\n\n

I worked as an elementary school teacher. My days were filled with children’s laughter and curiosity.\n\n

I loved helping my students and was always ready to help my neighbors’ kids too.\n\n

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Whether it was homework, babysitting, or just offering a safe place to play, I was glad to pitch in.\n\n

Next door lived a wonderful family\u2014Thomas and Martha. But tragedy struck when Martha died during childbirth.\n\n

They had a sweet little girl named Riley. Thomas did his best to raise Riley alone.\n\n

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Less than a year ago, he remarried. His new wife, Carmen, seemed lovely. She was a homemaker and always helped Thomas with Riley.\n\n

She didn\u2019t fit the image of a wicked stepmother from fairy tales. She took Riley to clubs and spent time with her.\n\n

But one night, a tired Thomas got into a car accident while returning from work. Carmen and Riley were devastated.\n\n

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I did what I could\u2014bringing over food, offering to take Riley for walks so Carmen could get some rest.\n\n

One afternoon, Carmen and Riley came over for tea. Riley, who used to be so cheerful, sat quietly, eating the pie I had baked.\n\n

Her silence was unsettling, and I couldn\u2019t help but wonder what was going on behind those sad eyes.\n\n

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“I don’t know how you manage,” I said, my voice soft. “I know what it’s like to lose someone you love.\n\n

But you still have a child who needs a childhood despite everything. That takes strength.”\n\n

Carmen sipped her tea and nodded. “Your fianc\u00e9 died, right?” she asked.\n\n

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I swallowed hard. “Yes,” I said. “Mike died five years ago.” Even saying his name made my chest tighten. It felt like fresh grief, even after all this time.\n\n

“I’m sorry,” Carmen said. “I didn’t mean to bring up old wounds.”\n\n

“It’s okay,” I said. “I just… I don’t really like talking about it.” I forced a small smile.\n\n

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Carmen set her cup down. “Have you thought about moving on?” she asked. “Finding someone new? Starting a family, having a child?”\n\n

Her words hit me hard. I felt my cheeks flush. “I… I can’t have children,” I said. My voice was barely above a whisper.\n\n

Her eyes widened. “Oh, Emily, I’m so sorry.”\n\n

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“It’s fine,” I said. “You didn’t know. But I still hope that maybe someday I could be a mom to someone. Maybe not in the traditional way, but still… like you are to Riley.”\n\n

Carmen’s expression softened. “Riley hasn’t called me ‘mom’ yet,” she said. “But we do have a wonderful bond, don\u2019t we, Riley?”\n\n

Riley, who had been quietly picking at her pie, nodded without looking up.\n\n

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Carmen continued, “We spend a lot of time together. I love taking her to clubs and doing things with her. I feel like my purpose in life is to be a mom.”\n\n

I smiled. “That’s wonderful,” I said. “Not everyone finds their purpose so clearly. Riley is lucky to have you.”\n\n

They stayed a bit longer, chatting about small things. Riley remained quiet, only answering direct questions.\n\n

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One afternoon, as I walked home from school, I saw Riley outside. The air was crisp, and dry leaves crunched under my feet. She stood near the sidewalk, her hands red from the cold.\n\n

“Hi, Riley,” I said. “Aren\u2019t you cold?”\n\n

She shook her head. “No.”\n\n

I took off my scarf and wrapped it around her. “Why are you out here alone?”\n\n

“Carmen has a guest,” Riley said. “She told me to play outside.”\n\n

I crouched down to meet her eyes. “What guest?”\n\n

She shrugged, looking away. “Some guy named Roger. He\u2019s been here more than once.”\n\n

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A knot formed in my stomach. Thomas hadn’t been gone long. Was Carmen already seeing someone new? It felt wrong. I reached for Riley\u2019s hands. They were ice-cold.\n\n

“Why are you lying about not being cold? You are freezing,” I said. “Come on. Let\u2019s get you inside and warm you up.”\n\n

Riley hesitated but took my hand. At home, I made tea and heated up some leftovers. She ate with big bites, as if she hadn\u2019t had a good meal in days.\n\n

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“Does Carmen feed you well?” I asked, keeping my tone light.\n\n

Riley nodded. “Yeah. I\u2019m not hungry. She orders takeout a lot. I miss homemade food, though.”\n\n

I stirred my tea. “What do you do together? Do you still go to clubs or play games?”\n\n

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She shook her head. “We clean. Carmen says it\u2019s my duty now.”\n\n

“Just cleaning?” I asked. “No more clubs or fun?”\n\n

“No,” she said. “Carmen says we don\u2019t have much money. She\u2019s busy with Roger anyway.”\n\n

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I bit my lip, trying to hide my worry. Carmen had seemed so caring, but maybe I had been wrong.\n\n

Riley wasn\u2019t being hurt, but kids needed more than just a roof over their heads. They needed love, attention, and fun.\n\n

“Listen,” I said gently. “If Roger comes over again and Carmen sends you outside, I want you to come here. Even if I\u2019m not home, the key will be under the mat. Okay?”\n\n

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Riley’s eyes widened. “Really?”\n\n

“Really,” I said. “Even if you just feel lonely, you can come over. We\u2019ll play, bake cookies, whatever you want.”\n\n

For the first time that afternoon, Riley smiled. It was small, but it was real. “Okay,” she said.\n\n

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I hugged her, feeling the weight of her tiny frame. I wished I could take away all her sadness.\n\n

From that day on, Riley came to me every day. Sometimes I\u2019d come home from school, tired and ready to kick off my shoes, only to find her already sitting on my couch.\n\n

Other times, I\u2019d be stirring soup on the stove when a soft knock at the door announced her arrival. \u201cWhat\u2019s for dinner?\u201d she\u2019d ask, her eyes bright with hope.\n\n

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Day by day, I saw her change. The sadness that had weighed her down seemed to lift.\n\n

Her laughter filled my home, clear and sweet, like music. The spark that had disappeared after Thomas\u2019s death started to shine in her eyes again.\n\n

I wanted her to feel safe and loved. I invented silly games, pulled out old board games, and we painted and drew until our fingers were covered in colors.\n\n

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I read her stories, sometimes with silly voices that made her giggle. We talked, too. Riley shared her worries, her fears, and the things that made her sad.\n\n

Then, one late evening, I heard voices under my window. I moved slowly, careful not to make a sound, and opened the window just a bit.\n\n

Carmen stood there with a man\u2014probably Roger\u2014whispering harshly in the cold night air.\n\n

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“Why can\u2019t we talk at your place?” Roger asked. His voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet night.\n\n

Carmen sighed. “The kid is asleep. I don\u2019t want her to hear us,” she said.\n\n

Roger huffed. “That kid is nothing but trouble.”\n\n

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Carmen\u2019s tone turned bitter. “You think I don\u2019t know that? Who could\u2019ve guessed Thomas would leave everything to her? I thought it would all be mine.”\n\n

“So, what\u2019s the plan?” Roger asked.\n\n

“I\u2019m looking for a loophole in the will,” Carmen said. “As soon as I find a way to transfer everything to myself, I\u2019ll get rid of her.”\n\n