Taylor Swift - instagram imagine

112.

you stared at the message, your heart sinking. the warm, content feeling from the day drained away in an instant. your father. the man who had barely been involved in emily's life, suddenly ready to swoop in and take her back. after everything—after these precious weeks where you and taylor had bonded with her so deeply—it was as if the ground had shifted beneath your feet.

taylor noticed the shift in your expression and gently squeezed your arm. "hey, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

you handed her the phone without a word, your mind racing with the implications of what that message meant. taylor read the text, her eyes narrowing as she processed it.

"he's asking for her back?" she said quietly, disbelief laced in her tone.

you nodded, unable to find your voice. you'd been dreading this moment, hoping it would never come, or at least not so soon. emily had only been with you for a short while, but it already felt like she belonged here—like this was her home.

taylor's hand found yours, her grip firm but reassuring. "what are you going to do?" she asked, her gaze locking with yours.

you exhaled shakily, your mind swirling with emotions. "i don't know," you whispered. "i knew this was coming, but... i wasn't ready. i don't think she's ready. emily's been so happy here, tay. what if going back messes everything up for her?"

taylor nodded, her eyes softening with empathy. "i know. but legally, if they think he's ready..." her voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken truth hanging in the air. you both knew the system could make decisions that weren't always in the best interest of the child, no matter how much you tried to fight it.

you felt a lump rise in your throat, panic bubbling just beneath the surface. "i can't just let her go," you said, your voice barely above a whisper. "she's my sister, tay. i've been taking care of her. how am i supposed to just hand her over to him?"

taylor pulled you closer, her arms wrapping around you protectively. "we'll figure this out," she murmured. "whatever happens, you're not alone in this. i'm with you, every step of the way."

you buried your face in her shoulder, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. "what if she doesn't want to go back?" you asked, your voice muffled by the fabric of her shirt. "what if she cries and begs to stay? how do i explain to her that i can't stop this?"

taylor's hand gently stroked your back, her voice soothing. "we'll talk to her in the morning. let her know what's happening. but we'll also make sure she understands that no matter what, you're not going anywhere. she'll always have you in her life, no matter what the situation is with your dad. plus she is asking when her dada would be back, i think she does want to go back."

you nodded, trying to steady your breathing, but the dread still gnawed at you. you thought about emily, peacefully asleep in the other room, blissfully unaware of what was about to happen. tomorrow could change everything.

taylor pulled back slightly, cupping your face in her hands and making you look at her. "we'll talk to a lawyer, okay?" she said, her voice resolute. "there's got to be a way to make sure emily's best interests are considered. you've been taking care of her—maybe they'll let her stay here longer, or at least give you some say in what happens."

"if she wants to go back i'm not gonna stop her, tay."

"i know baby, i know. we will all be fine."

you nodded again, feeling a flicker of hope at taylor's determination. she had always been your rock, and now was no different.

"let's get some rest," taylor said gently. "we'll handle this tomorrow. together."

you sighed, exhaustion finally catching up to you. "yeah... i guess we don't have a choice."