After that last conversion therapy session, her foster parents saw there hadn't been the results they wanted. So, they put her in a smaller bedroom in the basement and confiscated her phone for good. Every time they looked at her, Hope felt belittled by the mixture of pity and hate in their eyes. She could no longer live that way.
One lucky afternoon, Ma Lola came to Hope's foster home as she was worried about her niece. She hadn't heard of her for days which was unusual. She knocked on the door and no one was answering. Hope's foster mother glimpsed out the window and recognized Ma Lola from a picture she had seen in Hope's bedroom. She decided to not open the door. Ma Lola insisted but there were still no answers. So, she didn't call the police because she knew how triggering it could be for Hope — her last resort was social services. She got in contact with them and explained the whole situation and twenty minutes after the call, they arrived. Together they knocked and banged on the door but still, no one answered. It was clear there was a presence in the home; the lights were on and the car was parked in the driveway. The social services threatened to call the police and they finally unlocked the front door. Once she saw Mrs. Mayer, Ma Lola shouted,
'Where is Hope? Where's my niece?'
When Hope heard her aunt's voice she bounced off her mattress and she ran outside.
'Ma Lola? Ma Lola. I'm here!'
Hope blinked twice and ran towards her aunt. As they held each other, Ma Lola wondered at loud,
'Why didn't you answer my calls? I was worried'
'They took me to conversion therapy and I didn't become straight so they confiscated my phone.' responded Hope with slight sarcasm.
'What in the world?', Ma Lola was about to jump on Mrs. Mayer when the social service lady held her back 'How could you do this to her! You had no right! You evil-minded jerks.'
'Mam' calm down, don't do something you would regret, your niece is here with you now...', said a police officer.
'And she is coming with me,' affirmed Ma Lola.
Hope's eyes widened as she smiled.
The Mayers just stood there watching the mess they had created as if it were a movie scene.
YOU ARE READING
Hope - Trials and Tribulations
Short StoryAfter a tragic moment in her life, Hope has a life filled with highs and lows. Encounters with lovely people and with other people she will not click with. On her path to becoming a young woman the journey will be long and rough. Nonetheless, it wi...
