The babysitter

Goodbye

The early morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the kitchen. Lucy stood at the stove, flipping the pancakes with a practiced hand. She had made this breakfast for Emma countless times, and it always brought a smile to her face. Today, however, it felt different. There was an unspoken heaviness in the air, a weight that had settled on her chest ever since last night's argument between Tim and Ashley.

Lucy had overheard the entire conversation, every heated word and every emotional plea. She didn't want to admit it, but a part of her knew that things between Tim and Ashley had reached a breaking point. She had never expected to be caught in the middle, but there she was—torn between her loyalty to Tim and her role as a caretaker for Emma. And now, she had to face the consequences.

She placed the last pancake on the plate, carefully stacking it, and set it on the table in front of Emma's seat. Emma had been asleep when the argument took place, but Lucy knew that she would have sensed the tension in the house. Children were perceptive like that. Emma always seemed to know when something was wrong, even when no one said a word.

"Lucie?" Emma's small voice pulled Lucy from her thoughts. She turned to find Emma standing in the doorway, her messy hair tangled from sleep, her wide eyes searching Lucy's face.

"Yeah, Em?" Lucy asked, forcing a smile. She didn't want Emma to see the sadness in her eyes, but she knew the little girl was smarter than that.

"Where are you going?" Emma's voice wavered as she looked at Lucy, her innocent eyes filled with confusion and concern. She stepped forward, clutching her stuffed animal to her chest.

Lucy's heart broke at the sight. "I'm... I'm not sure yet, Em," she said softly, unable to meet the child's gaze. "But I have to go."

"Stayyy," Emma begged, her lip trembling as she took a tentative step toward Lucy. "Please, Lucie. Stay."

The words hit Lucy like a tidal wave, but she couldn't let herself break down. Not now. Not in front of Emma. "I'm sorry, sweetie," she said, her voice tight with emotion. "I can't stay."

"But why?" Emma's voice cracked, tears welling up in her big brown eyes. "Aunt Ashely said you have to go. I don't want you to go, Lucie."

Lucy knelt down to Emma's level, brushing a stray hair from her face. She wanted to tell Emma everything, to explain how hard this decision was, but she knew that would only confuse her. "Sometimes grown-ups have to make hard decisions, Em," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't want to go either, but I have to."

Emma's small face scrunched in confusion. "But you're my family! You're always here for me. Please don't leave."

Tears welled up in Lucy's eyes, and she wiped them away quickly, not wanting Emma to see her cry. "I'll always be here for you, Em," Lucy said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I promise you, no matter where I go, I'll always care about you. You'll always be in my heart."

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall, and Ashley appeared in the doorway. Her expression was cold, her posture rigid, but Lucy could see the discomfort in her eyes. "Emma," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "I need to talk to Lucie for a moment."

Emma turned to Ashley, confusion still written across her face. "Aunt Ashley, make Lucie stay."

Ashley sighed, crossing her arms. "I'm sorry, honey, but Lucie has to go."

"Please, no!" Emma wailed, her small voice cracking as tears started to pour down her cheeks. "Please don't make her leave, Aunt Ashley. I need Lucie here with me!"

Lucy's heart shattered as she watched Emma cry, her little body shaking with the force of her sobs. She bent down and pulled Emma into her arms, holding her tightly as the child clung to her for dear life. "I'm sorry, Em," Lucy whispered, her own tears falling. "I have to go, but I promise you, you'll be okay. You'll be just fine. You have Tim, and you'll always have him. You don't need me anymore."

Emma shook her head, her sobs growing louder. "No! I need you! You're my family, Lucie! Please don't leave me!"

Ashley stood at the doorway, her face unreadable. "I know this is hard, but you have to understand. Tim and I have to figure things out. I can't have you here anymore. You need to go."

The words hit Lucy like a slap across the face. She had known this day might come, but hearing it spoken aloud made it so much harder. She wanted to fight, to argue with Ashley, to convince her to let her stay. But deep down, Lucy knew that this was the right thing to do—for everyone. Emma deserved a stable home, and as much as she wanted to be there for her, she couldn't stay in a situation where she was unwanted.

"Come on, Em," Lucy said softly, her voice breaking. "Let's get you to bed, okay? It's time to sleep now. You've had a long day."

Emma sobbed into her chest, unwilling to let go, but Lucy gently pulled her arms away. She kissed Emma's forehead one last time, brushing her hair back with trembling fingers. "I'll always love you, Emma. You'll always be my girl, okay?"

With tears still streaming down her face, Lucy stood up, wiping her eyes. "Goodnight, sweetie," she said, forcing a smile as she stepped away from Emma's bed. "Sleep tight."

Ashley stood by the door, watching Lucy as she collected her things. There was no sympathy in her eyes, no sign of regret for what had just transpired. It was as if she had won some kind of battle, but Lucy didn't care anymore. She wasn't here for Ashley, she was here for Emma—and she always would be, even if she couldn't stay.

Lucy packed her belongings quickly, throwing a few clothes into a bag, not bothering to sort through them. She just needed to leave. She needed space, she needed time to think, and she needed to figure out what her life was going to look like moving forward.

As she walked down the stairs, she glanced at the family photos hanging on the wall. A part of her wanted to take one last look at Emma, to say goodbye in a way that would offer some comfort. But she couldn't. She had already said everything she needed to say.

"Goodbye, Tim," she whispered to the empty hallway. "Goodbye, Emma."

Then, without another word, she opened the door and stepped into the night.

The door clicked shut behind her, and Lucy stood on the porch for a moment, feeling the cold air brush against her skin. She didn't know where she was going. She didn't know what came next.

But she knew one thing: it was time to let go.