I stared at her. “Jyll told me about the custody threats.”
Her face tightened.
I walked to her desk and opened the top drawer.
Inside was a file labeled “Emergency Custody Protocol.”
My blood ran cold.
There were notarized documents with my name, Jyll’s name — and forged signatures outlining guardianship plans in case of “maternal instability.”
“You forged my signature?” I asked quietly.
“It was a precaution,” she replied.
“In case you pushed her too far?”
“She wasn’t fit.”
I didn’t argue. I took the file and left.
That night, I lay between my daughters as they slept, their small hands gripping my shirt.
I didn’t cry. I just stared at the ceiling.
And I thought about all the times I stayed quiet when I should have spoken up. All the times I told myself Jyll was just tired. All the times I let my mother’s voice overpower hers.
The next morning, I searched Jyll’s drawers and found a journal.
Her words hit me harder than anything else.
“Day 112: Carol says the girls need resilience. I feel like I’m failing.”
“Day 345: She came to therapy again. Said I don’t need it.”
“Day 586: I miss being me.”
I went straight to a lawyer that afternoon.
By the end of the day, my mother was removed from all school permissions, the forged documents were flagged, and legal notices were drafted.
That night, I called Jyll.
She answered after two rings.
“Zach.”
“I’m sorry,” I said immediately. “I didn’t see it. I thought you were overwhelmed. I didn’t realize how much she was doing.”
“You tried,” she said softly. “But you didn’t know how.”
“I know now. The custody file is with my lawyer. She’s done. She’s not near our girls again.”
There was a pause.
“I want you home,” I said.
“I can’t yet,” she replied. “I need to find myself again first. I don’t want to come back broken.”
“We’ll wait,” I promised.
Three days later, a small package arrived.
Inside were scrunchies for the girls, crayons, and a photo of Jyll at the beach, smiling.
The note read:
“Thank you for finally seeing me. I’m trying. I hope I can come home soon.
— J.”
That night, I turned on the porch light early.
