Dad, Im hungry and I want to go out! the tiny voice of little Emily squealed as she tottered to her father.
Andrew was polishing off the last cold pint of bitter while his mouse clicked away at a firstperson shooter on his screen. He had a crucial online match to finish, and the incessant chirps from his daughter grated on his nerves. He could not see when she would finally quiet down and stop demanding his attention. His temper thickened as Emily tugged his sleeve, pleading for a glance. How old was she? Five? Supposedly an independent childcouldnt she make herself a bowl of porridge? He roamed the local garage with his mates, while his daughter seemed a helpless little blob.
The distraction cost Andrew dearly he lost the round. Rage clouded his vision. He sprang to his feet, lunged into the kitchen, snatched a hard crusty loaf and thrust it at his girl.
Here, chew it. Cant reach it yourself? he barked.
He poured a glass of milk from the fridge, set it on the table, and when Emily reminded him that Mum always warms milk, Andrew snapped that he wasnt mum and that she ought to know that by now. He returned to his computer, hoping a full stomach would silence her foolish pleas. Anger, however, made everything slip. After a quick trip to the loo he came back, but didnt even make it to his favourite armchair.
Dad, I want to go for a walk. Mum and I used to go every day! Emily whispered, lips pursed.
You want a walk? Fine! Off you go! he replied, eyes gleaming at the prospect of finally being alone.
Seeing a perfect chance to lock himself away, Andrew rummaged through Emilys wardrobe, pulling out warm trousers, a sweater, mittens and a coat with a matching hat. He hurriedly dressed her, shoved her out into the yard and told her to stay there until he called her back. He slipped back to his desk, jammed on headphones, cranked up his favourite track, popped open a new can of fizzy pop and resumed blasting enemies, delighted that no one could disturb him.
Emily shivered in the cold. In her mind, Mum always dressed her in cozier clothes for winter strolls. The sun was gone, night was falling, and Mum never sent her out at such an hour. How terribly she missed her mother. Her little lips began to tremble; she tried to open the front door, but her father had locked it with a key. To stave off the chill, Emily decided to run a bit. Snow lay, untouched for days, clinging to her feet, making each step a struggle. She tried to roll a snowman, but the powder refused to stick, crumbling like sand. She wondered whether the snow might actually be cold sand. She knocked on the house, but no one answered, as if she were invisible. Fear crept in. Her teeth chattered, and she called for Dad, but his voice never came. Wrapping her arms around herself, she spotted the garden gate ajar and slipped through, hoping to warm her frozen toes even a little. She thought of visiting neighbour Aunt Lucy, who often offered milk, but Lucys house was dark. Emily pounded the door; no one answered. Perhaps no one was home. She kept walking, soon leaving the small village behind, the cottages fading into the night. A blizzard swirled, and when Emily turned, the world was a white void. She ran, inhaling icy air, crying Dad! while the image of her fathers irritated face flickered, his voice echoing, Leave me alone, Im not your mum! Realising she was utterly alone, she tried desperately to shield herself from the wind that knocked her to her knees. The cold snow bit her skin, and the howling gale seeped under her coat.
When Andrew finally remembered his daughter, it was about two in the morning. He might never have thought of her again, if not for a sudden loud knock at the window while he was dashing to the bathroom. The bare lilac branches outside were coated in hoarfrost, thrashing in the wind.
A proper blizzard, he muttered, but the thought of Emily out there struck him like a bolt.
He leapt into the yard, shouting for Emily, but she was gone. A wave of dread washed over him; the night was deep, the storm fierce, and his child could freeze. Yet he waved his hand dismissively, as if she could simply melt away.
Assuming she had taken refuge with a neighbour, Andrew slipped back inside, the cold gnawing at his bones. He told his wife, Shes safe; were asleep, everythings fine, his tone flat. Their marriage had grown thin; she nagged like a ghost of her own mother, urging him to work rather than sit glued to his games. He dreamed of making a living from gaming, hearing stories of progamers salaries, and muttered that shed sing a different tune once he started raking in big money.
Andrew collapsed onto the sofa and fell asleep, leaving the front door unlocked just in case Emily should return. At dawn, his sisterinlaws younger sister, Diana, burst in, shouting, Youve gone mad! Wheres Emily?!
Enough! Im not home! Andrew waved her away, but Diana clutched his arm, pulling him to the floor.
When Im done, Ill count every bone youve broken! he threatened, rubbing his bruised wrist. Unlike her gentle sister, Olivia, Diana was a hardened karatetrained woman, not easily scared. She snapped, Wheres the child? Where did you send my niece? I came for Emily!
Andrew stammered, She went for a walk yesterday maybe to Aunt Lucys on the ninth? I didnt mean to I just tossed her out so I could keep playing.
Diana raced to Lucys cottage. Lucy shook her head, pale, and asked about the missing girl. Diana knew nothing; she had just returned from a work trip after learning her sister was in hospital. She knocked on every door, but every household kept its windows shut against the snow. Finally, she stormed back, shaking Andrew, who was at his desk, headset on, game flashing. She pounded his desk, tears spilling, Wheres the child? Did you even look?
He tried to calm her: Shell be fine. Shell come back. She screamed, You told Mom we were sleeping! Where is she?
Diana decided not to tell Olivia the news yet, fearing it would ruin the upcoming heart surgery. She called the police; Andrew tried to snatch the phone, but Dianas stare halted him. Emergency services promised to sweep the area. Diana could not believe the nightmare was real; it felt like a fever dream. She blamed herself for not urging Olivia to leave Andrew sooner.
Police and rescue crews arrived quickly, questioned Andrew, and, seeing the evidence, placed handcuffs on him.
What have I done? he protested. I didnt
The officer replied, Leaving a fiveyearold alone in a blizzard is child endangerment.
Diana wept, fearing what might have happened to Emily. The rescuers uncovered a peculiar snow mound and began digging. After a calming drink from Lucy, Diana entered Emilys room, where clothes lay strewn, and clutched a tiny nightdress, sobbing. She remembered the last time shed seen Emily, a month ago, when Olivia was preparing for her operation and Emily had clung to Diana, whispering, I love you.
A detective entered, We found mittens in the woodsyours?
Dianas heart stopped; those mittens were the ones she had given Emily from a business trip. She staggered, leaned against the wardrobe, and a officer helped her sit on the sofa.
The search will continue, but the snow is deep; footprints are gone.
Diana hugged herself, silent tears falling, visualising Emilys smiling face, praying for her safe return.
The search lasted through the night, yielding nothing. The rescue team was withdrawn, and the police took the distraught father away. Diana was left alone in the unfamiliar cottage, cursing herself for never dissuading Olivia from marrying Andrew. She remembered how Andrew boasted about his looks, his muscles from the army, and his empty head. Olivia had loved him blindly, insisting he cared for them, though he never did. When Olivia last spoke to him, he swore off gaming, only to relapse after she fell ill.
Sleep eluded Diana; she lied to her sister about everything being fine and pretended to take Emily in. She could not imagine telling Olivia the truth if Emily were found dead.
At dawn, the phone rang. A detective announced that a fiveyearold girl had been admitted to the regional hospital; Diana was to meet her there immediately. She drove, heart pounding, and entered a ward where a frail Emily lay under a blanket. A young doctor approached.
Is she your daughter? he asked gently.
my niece, Diana whispered, struggling to stand.
The girl is strong; shell pull through, the doctor assured.
The detective stepped aside for a private talk; Diana sat beside Emilys bedside, took her tiny hand and wept with relief. The doctor explained Emily suffered partial frostbite and a possible pneumonia, hard to detect on early scans.
Diana sobbed, grateful Emily was alive, though the road ahead would be long. The doctor, Dr. Samuel, introduced himself, saying he had found Emily after a stray dog, Charlie, led him to her. Samuel had been heading home with Charlie, intending a quick walk, when the dog chased a childs sleeve into the snow. He rescued her, rushed her to the hospital, and only today could complete the paperwork.
Samuel recalled the nights chaos, his own day off, and how Charlie, usually obedient, ran off, whimpering for help. He found the dog dragging Emilys sleeve, saved her, and sped to the emergency department.
Diana, still shaking, thanked Charlie, If it werent for you. Samuel offered her a cup of tea in the hospital lounge; she accepted, exhausted, having not eaten or slept for days. She debated how to break the news to Olivia without shattering her, but knew the truth would still bring pain.
The doctor promised to do everything to ensure Emilys recovery; the frostbite was mild, and no lasting scar would remainall thanks to Charlies keen nose.
Diana decided there was no point hiding the truth, so she visited Olivia at the hospital. Olivia greeted her with a bright smile.
I have good news! No surgery needed; the treatment is working. Ill be home soon, she said, then glanced around, Wheres Emily? Did you leave her with Andrew?
Diana lowered her head, began her story from the end, hoping the blow wouldnt be too great. Olivia wept, refusing to accept that Andrew could be so callous. She said she could have forgiven his laziness, but never his cruelty toward their child. She asked, Can I stay with you for a while?
Of course, Diana replied, Our flat is yours too; Mum left it to us, and Im hardly ever home.
Olivia resolved to file for divorce as soon as she left the ward. She wanted to visit her daughter, but discharge was still weeks away. Diana promised to care for Emily, to become both mother and father while they sorted things.
That evening Emily woke, clung to Diana, and cried. She told Diana that a beautiful dog had saved her and that she heard a kind mans voice, but she could not answer. She begged Diana never to show her father again, for he had thrown her away. The little girl understood everything, and the wound in her heart deepened.
Emilys pneumonia was ruled out, and she recovered quickly. Olivia was discharged early; while Andrew sat in a detention cell, she packed her things and moved into Dianas flat, filing for divorce, determined never to forgive that wretched man again.
Unexpectedly, Diana and Dr. Samuel grew close, their romance blooming. After Emilys discharge, Samuel and Charlie became regular guests at Diana and Olivias home. Emily adored Charlie, constantly asking for a big bone or a treat from the shop. Olivia found life easier without the burden of a worthless husband, and Andrew received a short prison term and a criminal record. He never truly repented, reveling in his solitary freedom, until he sold everything he owned and sank into a bleak existence. He grew bitter, constantly picking fights, and when word spread of his abuse, a group of men beat him, calling him a disgrace to manhood. A spinal injury left him confined to a bed, and his attempts to reclaim Olivia and Emily proved futile; Olivia now knew his true nature and would never trust him again. She focused on helping Emily heal emotionally, while Diana planned to marry Samuel, confident she had finally found a man with a big heart.
