Tori’s world shattered when her parents abandoned her and her two little brothers. Years later, just as she began to rebuild her life, her estranged parents knocked on her door, smiling as if nothing had happened.

“We’ll call child services, and they’ll take you away,” her father had barked years ago. Child Services arrived, and Tori, at fifteen, was separated from her brothers, placed in foster care.

The Thompsons, her foster family, treated her coldly. She ran away multiple times, seeking solace on the streets. An old, abandoned trailer became her refuge. Tori worked odd jobs to survive, always missing her brothers.

Years passed, and Tori enrolled in community college, juggling work and studies. She graduated with a degree in business administration, eventually becoming a store manager. Life was finally stable.

Then her parents showed up, seeking shelter. “Can we stay with you?” they asked, smiling. Anger surged within Tori. “You abandoned us, and now you want my help?”

Her parents looked taken aback. Tori handed them an old ten-dollar bill her father had given her years ago. “I hope this helps you as much as it helped me back then. Now, get out of my house and never come back.”

As they left, Tori felt a strange sense of closure. Her past no longer held her back. She was ready for whatever came next.